Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Part of a regular series.

Throughout the year, GNACsports.com uses this space to profile conference student-athletes who are members of their respective institutions' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In addition to providing feedback on the student-athlete experience, conference and institutional SAAC members also offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses. Click here for more information on the function of SAAC at the NCAA level.

Name: Kody Whitney
Sport: Men's Soccer
School: Seattle Pacific
Year: Sophomore
Major: Psychology
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.

Extracurricular activities: FIFA, Hiking

Why did you choose to attend Seattle Pacific? Because Seattle is awesome!

What is your favorite class you have taken in college and why? inter-communications because my professor was really cool and helped me excel in the class.

Who is your favorite professor you've had in college and what did you enjoy about learning from him or her? Professor (Todd) Rendlemen because I enjoyed learning about the different types of communication between one another.

Years involved in SAAC: One. 

The reason I chose to get involved in SAAC: To become a better leader.

If I could change one NCAA rule, it would be: That Division II meals could be paid for.

What is the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics? That you need time for yourself to and to relax a little and enjoy the city.

What does it mean to be a Division II student-athlete: To be a leader on and off the field along with being a role model to everybody.

Current mentor(s): My coaches.

Future goals after school: To coach someday and help the disabled be able to play soccer and love the game.

Biggest obstacle overcame during collegiate career: Being a redshirt freshman was a really tough but this year was a lot better for me.

Best advice I’d give to an incoming freshman: Don't be afraid of change and engulf yourself in it.

If I could spend the day with one person (past or present), who would it be (and why)? I would spend a day with one of my soccer idols, probably Thierry Henry or Tim Howard.

Favorite sports team: Arsenal.

Favorite athlete: Nicklas Bendtner.

Most memorable sports-related moment: Winning the GNAC championship in back-to-back years.

One thing that people don't know about me is: I love California burritos.