More than 30 AMCC student-athletes spent a day in early October immersed in leadership skill training hosted on the Penn State Behrend campus.

The SAAC reps and team captains spent a full day hearing from speakers on topics including

-> "Take Back Your SAAC," facilitated by Erica Rau, Assistant AD and Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Oberlin College.  This session focused on harnessing the voice of the student-athlete on campuses to influence policy and decisions directly affecting the intercollegiate athletic experience.

-> "Leadership & Teamwork:  What's Your Why?", facilitated by Ken Achenback, a former coach and high school history teacher at Meadville High School.  Achenbach addressed understanding personal purpose and motivation and how that is critical to effective leadership.

-> "Inclusive Leaderhip for Student-Athletes," facilitated by Sue Patterson, Director of DEIB at Penn State Altoona.  A newly trained facilitator for the NCAA Div. III Inclusive Leaders program, Patterson spoke to ways student-athlete leaders can both promote and benefit from a diverse, equitable and inclusive campus climate within the athletic department.

The sessions brought out strong feelings in the participants about why they do what they do and how they can be better leaders.

"We're more than a team, we're a family," said Pitt-Bradford sophomore soccer player Zoal Awad. " In sport, it's more than just a game, there's a bigger picture."

This was echoed by several others. "I want to be that family, to be that positve person," shared Pitt-Greensburg senior volleyball player Jadyn Zemba.

"I'm not a bowler, I'm here to make sure we have a team," said La Roche junior Krista Keene.  "I get out of bed because I need to support my four other teammates."

Matt Caldwell, a sophomore wrestler at Penn State Behrend, took a broader view.  "I'm here as a leader to support Division III," he stated.  "(Being a student-athlete) is very difficult, and you have to work really hard."