Thursday, April 23, 2015

One in 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.

Aubrey Conceicao
Montana State Billings
Senior * Softball

Hometown: Temecula, California
College: Montana State University Billings (MSUB)
College major: Rehabilitation and Related Services
Current sport: Softball (2B)
Year in school: Senior
Favorite sports team: Los Angeles Angels
Favorite athlete: Mike Trout
Extracurricular activities: SAAC president, helped with the Special Olympics last summer and currently interning at Youth Dynamics as a peer mentor.

Why did you choose to attend MSUB? I chose MSUB because I loved how involved the community is. It is amazing to be a part of such a close-knit school.

What is your favorite class you have taken in college and why? One of my favorite classes was Counseling for Families with Abuse and Neglect. This happened to be one of the toughest classes I have taken in my college career, both with the curriculum and emotionally. My teacher did an amazing job conveying the information. She also was able to get us a lot of guest speakers. This helped us better to understand the client’s perspective! It was truly an unforgettable learning experience.

Who is your favorite professor you've had in college and what did you enjoy about learning from him or her? My favorite professor was Joe Walsh. He had an unconventional way of teaching us. He was very interactive and always found new ways to present the information to us. He used guest speakers which helped immensely.

How many years have you been involved in SAAC? 4

What was the reason you chose to get involved in SAAC? I was told it was an opportunity to help support and improve the athletic department. I loved being able to get involved with the school.

What was your most memorable SAAC activity? My most memorable SAAC activity will probably be when we all go to help an organization remove graffiti. This will be a great community service event.

What was your favorite part of GNAC SAAC retreat last fall in Anchorage? My favorite part was getting to go on hikes in Alaska! Those views were absolutely breathtaking. Not to mention I got to meet some amazing new friends!

If you could change one NCAA rule, what would it would be? I wish we were able to extend the student-athlete experience for a couple more years!

What is the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics? I have learned how to manage my time. I think being a student athlete is one of the best preparations for entering the real world. It teaches you to always be on time, to be respectful, to work as a team and how to multi-task.

What does it mean to be a Division II student-athlete? It is such a privilege to be able to represent my institution in such a unique way.

Who are your current mentors? My current mentors would be my coaches, Rebekah Gasner and Lisa Allen.

What are your future goals after school is over? I hope to be able to counsel children who have endured traumatic situations or who may not have the best home life, in hopes to give them a better livelihood and coping mechanisms.

What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome during your collegiate career? The biggest obstacle I overcame was learning a new position. I was recruited to the team as an outfielder and, with the help of my coaches, I have been a second baseman for all four years!

What's the best advice you’d give to an incoming freshman? Enjoy every moment and all aspects of college. It goes by faster than you think!

If you could spend the day with one person (past or present), who would it be and why? I think I would want to spend a day with Stevie Wonder. Not only do I love his music, but it would be amazing to get his perspective on life!

What is your most memorable sports-related moment? My most memorable sports moment was when my softball team won the GNAC conference title my freshman year.

What is one thing that people don't know about you? I have had a near-death experience from being attacked by a swarm of bees!