Friday, October 21, 2022
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: Olivia Kraska
Sport: Women's Basketball
Institution: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Year: Senior
Major/Minor: Psychology/Minor in Biological Sciences
Hometown: Fairbanks, Alaska
Why did you choose to attend UAF?: It was the best offer coming out of high school that met all of the educational and athletic goals I had set for myself.
What is your favorite class you have taken in college and why?: My favorite class I've taken at UAF so far was called Medical Humanities and it was offered through the honors college, so it was a very exclusive class with limited seats. This was the professor's intention so that the students could have very in-depth conversations regarding ethical concerns in the medical field.
Who is your favorite professor to date and why?: The professor for my Medical Humanities class, Dr. Elaine Drew, was one of the most understanding, charismatic and smart teachers that I have ever met at UAF. She was engaging and allowed us to really dive deep into these ethical dilemmas regarding our healthcare systems while learning different points of view, even ones we may not agree with.
How many years were you involved in SAAC?: Four years.
What made you want to be involved in SAAC?: I wanted to make a difference at my school by engaging with the community and by getting to know other student-athletes. It also seemed like a fun outside activity I could get involved in that would make my resume look more well-rounded.
What is your most memorable SAAC activity to date?: The Nanook Olympics in Spring 2022! It is an event where our SAAC plans a whole day of teams competing against each other in all the sports that we have at UAF to promote competitiveness and engagement.