Friday, December 8, 2017
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: Molly Nutt
Sport: Softball
School: Central Washington
Year: Junior
Major: Business Management
Hometown: Sandy, Ore.
Extracurricular Activities: Women in Business Club
What Is Your Favorite Class You Have Taken In College And Why: Management 200. It focused on group projects that culminated in large debates against other groups. It was a super competitive environment that was fun to be a part of.
Who Is Your Favorite Professor You've Had In College And What Did You Enjoy About Learning From Him Or Her: Jennifer Cravens. She is my accounting professor and although the material is fairly bland, she is enthusiastic and keeps the class interesting. It's obvious how much she cares about her students.
Years Involved In SAAC: 3
The Reason I Chose To Get Involved In SAAC: I love volunteering and doing community service. It seemed like the perfect way to get to know more athletes and be a part of giving back to the community as well as being a voice for the athletes here at CWU.
Most Memorable SAAC Activity: My freshman year I attended Idaho State University and we did a giant Easter egg hunt for all the kids in town. They LOVED it. All the teams were there helping and it was a great success.
If I Could Change One NCAA Rule, It Would Be: I don't think travel days should count as off days if you're traveling over five hours. Long bus rides or long days in the airport can be more exhausting than a game sometimes.
What Is The Most Important Thing You've Learned From Balancing The Demands Of Athletics And Academics: Keeping a planner and staying organized is absolutely crucial. Communication with professors and coaches about conflicts in advance is also extremely important.
What Does It Mean To Be A Division II Student-Athlete: I've been able to experience both Division I and Division II culture. Here at CWU, I feel like coaches and administrators care more about our well-being. At Division I, I noticed a lot more athletes being treated as money makers rather than college students. I can understand why the difference occurs, but I like Division II because my academics are so important to me and I feel like that is valued more at CWU.
Current Mentor(s): Kari Johnson, our SAAC advisor and compliance coordinator, is someone I would consider a mentor.
Future Goals After School: I am considering going to law school to pursue a corporate law degree. If I do not do that, I would hope to have a job after graduating in business marketing.
Biggest Obstacle Overcome During Collegiate Career: Transferring from one college to another.
Best Advice I’d Give To An Incoming Freshman: Make sure you have your priorities in line but make sure you have fun too! Keep your grades up and surround yourself with good people.
Favorite Sports Team: CWU Softball
Most Memorable Sports-Related Moment: We beat Sonoma State in extra innings and it was a great game and a great win.
One Thing That People Don't Know About Me Is: I have a 4.0 GPA.