Anaheim CA was the setting for the 2020 NCAA Convention and five AMCC students spent four days in the rooms where it happens.

In what has become a conference tradition dating back to 2010, the AMCC brings four student-athletes to the convention gathering of more than 500 institutions and conferences to learn about hot topic issues in Division III and the association; provide the student-athlete perspective on proposed legislation; listen to conference administrators discuss policy; and connect with peers at member institutions and the national Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

"One thing that I learned was that there is a whole process when trying to implement new proposals," said Alfred State senior Brooke Scianna.  "It was quite eye opening as I don't think many student athletes know the process, and they don't understand how hard our athletic directors fight to better our experiences."

Hilbert senior Samantha Lawicki also learned a lot from the legislative sessions.  "Being able to see the legislation at work was an experience that proved to be more insightful than I would have thought," she commented.  "When reading the rules of the NCAA as an athlete you do not put much thought into how they were made. Seeing the discussion process, as well as the voting process at both the AMCC meeting and with the whole division, it gave me better insight into the process.  I never before thought of many of the details that could affect a conference's entire decision on passing or rejecting a proposal."

Penn St. Behrend senior Gabriella Loeffler had a different perspective on the experience.

"Not only was I able to meet student athletes, but I was also able to converse with members of the national SAAC, and discuss my questions and concerns," Loeffler said.  "And it was really nice knowing that my voice was heard by those high up in the NCAA, and as president of my SAAC, it legitimately feels like I was able to speak up for the student athletes of my school."

 Also joining the four SAAC reps in Anaheim were Ugwunna Amadi, a senior on the Pitt-Bradford soccer team, who was selected for the Div. III Immersion Program, and Dan Roberts, the recipient of a Div. III internship grant who serves as the Alfred State Coordinator of Event Management and Equipment Services, also attended.

Ugwunna had a different perspective on the convention.

"As a participant in the immersion program, I got the chance to attend educational programs about issues the NCAA would like its schools to be aware of and address it on their respective campuses," he explained.  "I attended a session on mental health and crisis management with my mentor. Something I took note of during these sessions was that everyone was there because they felt their campus needed to improve in these areas. And the NCAA provided a space where they could learn from people who had been successful at tackling these issues at their campus."