Friday, September 24, 2021

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.

Name: Molly Anderson
Sport: Volleyball
Institution: Northwest Nazarene University
Year: Sophomore
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Hometown: Nampa, Idaho

Why Did You Choose To Attend Northwest Nazarene?: I chose NNU because of the community on campus. Everyone supports each other. The professors here, as well as my coaches, truly care about me as an individual and want me to succeed and pursue my goals.

What Is Your Favorite College Class And Why?: Genetics. It’s incredible that there are so many systems at work that we never see that make us all individually unique.

How Many Years Have You Been Involved In SAAC?: One.

Why Did You Choose To Get Involved With SAAC?: I am interested in the changes being made and I want to be a part of it.

How Do You Feel Participating In SAAC Will Help You After You Graduate?: I think it will give me the confidence to be involved in changing things around me, and help me want to make things better for everyone in every aspect of life.

What Have You Learned From Needing To Balance Athletics And Academics?: To prioritize the things that will allow me to succeed and to be better at time management.

What Is The Biggest Obstacle You Have Overcome During Your Collegiate Career?: Having my first volleyball season during COVID-19. Coming in as a freshman, I didn’t know what to expect and nothing was certain.

What Does It Mean To You To Be A Division II Student-Athlete?: Being a part of NCAA Division II athletics is an amazing honor I don’t take for granted. It is a way to use the abilities that have been given to me and play for something bigger than myself.

What Are Your Future Goals After Graduating?: Either attend a school of veterinary medicine to become a large animal veterinarian or obtain a master’s in animal physiology to pursue a career with animals.

What Advice Would You Have For An Incoming Freshman?: Always give 100 percent and focus on your teammates more than yourself.

What’s Your Favorite Thing About Being Part Of The GNAC?: Getting to visit amazing places around the Northwest.

What’s Your Favorite Sports Memory?: Going back to serve in my first collegiate volleyball game.

Favorite Athlete: Jordan Larson (two-time volleyball Olympic medalist and Team USA captain).

Extracurricular Activities: I regularly attend and am involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes ministry.