Friday, December 4, 2015

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: Patricia Sprecher
Sport: Nordic Skiing
Year: Senior
Major: Finance
Hometown: Vättis, Switzerland
School: Alaska Anchorage

Extracurricular activities: Exploring extraordinary places around the world.

Why did you choose to attend UAA? Coming from Switzerland I could not imagine how living in Alaska is. I wanted to learn about a new culture and choose UAA because of its great athletic program.

What is your favorite class you have taken in college and why? Management Information Systems. It was a very interesting class where we talked about current issues and progresses in technology.

Who is your favorite professor you've had in college and what did you enjoy about learning from him or her? My favorite professor is Bogdan Hoanca. He is open to world issues and not only focused about one country.

Years involved in SAAC: Three

The reason I chose to get involved in SAAC: It was an opportunity to get more involved as a student-athlete.

Most memorable SAAC activity: Being part of the annual UAA athlete of the year banquet and the student-athlete talent show.

What is the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics? Plan your time wisely. I think every student-athlete is a great manager, because it is not easy to balance school and training.

What does it mean to be a Division II student-athlete? It is the healthy middle of balancing athletics and school.

Future goals after school: After I graduate from UAA I'm going to pursue a master's program at the HTW in Switzerland.

Biggest obstacle overcame during collegiate career: Going to school on a different continent in a country where I have never been before. Not knowing anyone there and study in a foreign language.

Best advice I’d give to an incoming freshman: Enjoy the time in college. It is something you will never experience again in your life.

If I could spend the day with one person (past or present), who would it be (and why)? Roger Federer. He is the most successful tennis player of all time. Despite his huge success he remained modest.

Favorite sports team: Swiss national soccer team.

Favorite athlete: Dario Cologna (Swiss cross country skier).

Most memorable sports-related moment: I watched the quarterfinals of the ice hockey world championships live in the stadium between USA and Sweden.

One thing that people don't know about me is: There is one person who looks exactly like me, but lives on the other side of the world (my identical twin sister).