Friday, March 24, 2023

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: Ethan Martin
Sport: Men's Basketball
Institution: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Year: Freshman
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Arlington, Washington

Why did you choose to attend UAF?: I thought it would be cool to go to school in Alaska and that it would be a great opportunity to play basketball.

What is your favorite class you have taken in college and why?: My favorite class I've taken at UAF so far is my computer science class. I have always really liked coding and seeing the code that I made appear in a way everyone else can enjoy. This is what I am choosing to do as my degree and I am excited to take more classes like this.

Who is your favorite professor and why?: My favorite professor is Lane Schwartz in computer science. He is very good in lectures and makes the subject really easy for students to understand. He also reaches out and checks on his students which is unlike any other professor that I have ever had. 

How many years were you involved in SAAC?: This is my first year.

What made you want to be involved in SAAC?: I thought it would be a cool opportunity to meet new people.

What is your most memorable SAAC activity to date?: This year, I got to be involved in the GNAC SAAC retreat. I was able to learn from a variety of different speakers about topics that I could bring back to my team. We also got to explore Seattle and I met a bunch of athletes that are very similar to me.

What is the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics?: You can't put tasks or assignments off and it's important to finish them soon as they arise.

What does it mean to you to be a Division II student-athlete?: Being a Division II student-athlete means that achieving academic excellence and pursuing your passion for sports are both possible and it can make you a well-rounded student-athlete.

What is the best advice you would give to an incoming freshman?: The most important thing an incoming freshman should know is to not procrastinate. Especially as an athlete, you never know what’s going to come up. 

What is your favorite sports-related moment?: My most memorable sports moment was when I made a game-winning three-point shot at the buzzer to beat our rival school and everyone stormed the court. I was filled with so much emotion. It was one of the best moments in my entire life. Not only was it a rival team, but it was a must-win game toward the end of the season. 

If you could spend the day with one person (past or present), who would it be (and why)?: I would spend it with Peter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich. I used to watch his dribble moves videos when I was younger.