Thursday, April 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: Kealey Scott
Sport: Women’s Rowing
Institution: Cal Poly Humboldt
Year: Sophomore
Major: Child Development and Family Relations
Hometown: Victoria, B.C.

Why Did You Choose To Attend Cal Poly Humboldt?: It’s the perfect distance from home and I enjoy the climate. Every staff member I met on my visit was very kind and welcoming. I also really enjoyed the girls on the rowing team, the coaching staff was amazing and I could see myself growing as an athlete and a student on this team and at school here in Humboldt.

What Is Your Favorite College Class And Why?: American Indian Education is one of my minors, and my first class in that program is my favorite to date. It covered some traumatic and dark course material but it taught me a lot of information that I feel I can share with people here and back home to provide more insight into certain topics. I really enjoy learning about history and being able to make connections between past events and my current environment.

Who Is Your Favorite Professor?: It's hard to pick a favorite. All of the professors in the child development department here are amazing! They are always available for extra help and are super understanding and supportive of my schedule as a student-athlete.

How Many Years Have You Been Involved In SAAC?: This is my first year.

Why Did You Choose To Get Involved With SAAC?: I stepped up after a teammate was unable to continue being our SAAC rep. I was excited to join SAAC so I could share updates and concerns from my team with the athletic department and get to know the other teams better. I like being able to contribute to discussions or events that benefit our athletics and also the community.

What Has Been The Most Memorable SAAC Activity?: We did a dodgeball tournament with all the varsity sports and some of the intramural teams. The entry to the tournament was two cans of food so that we could collect as many cans as possible and donate them back to the school to help other students.

How Do You Feel Participating In SAAC Will Help You After You Graduate?: I think SAAC is helping me find my voice in my own team, but also within a diverse group of people. I think being on SAAC will help me after I graduate as working with other people and creating programs or events is important in elementary education and teamwork is an important skill to have in general.

What Have You Learned From Needing To Balance Athletics And Academics?: The most important thing I've learned is to stay on top of school work but also take breaks for yourself. It's tough with athletics, academics, and a job to find time to relax and take a breath but it's important to be able to sit down for a bit and take a break. I've also noticed that when one school assignment is late, they all seem to pile up and I fall behind.

What Is The Biggest Obstacle You Have Overcome During Your Collegiate Career?: Balancing my time and maintaining relationships with people back home.

What Does It Mean To You To Be A Division II Student-Athlete?: It means a lot to me! I get to go to school and earn the degree I want while being on a competitive team and getting to race in my school colors. It's the perfect balance of athletics and academics, and it allows me to succeed in both areas.

What Are Your Future Goals After Graduating?: To be an early elementary education teacher back home in a small, rural community, to be as active as possible and hopefully inspire kids to become athletes.

What Advice Would You Have For An Incoming Freshman?: Get help as soon as you need it. There are people everywhere willing to help you, and there is someone for every problem you might have. Don't let problems build up because they will become too much.

What’s Your Favorite Sports Memory?: Winning silver at the high school national championships with my best friend in 11th grade.

If You Could Spend The Day With One Person, Who Would It Be?: I would probably choose either of my grandparents, so I should show them everything I've done in sports and academics and tell them about my life.

Favorite Sports Team: Victoria Royals, a junior league hockey team from my hometown.