Friday, October 6, 2017
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: Adrian VanderHelm
Sport: Swimming
School: Simon Fraser
Year: Senior
Major: Business Admin/Accounting
Hometown: Barrie, Ontario
Extracurricular Activities: Volunteer community work, SAAC.
Why Did You Choose To Attend Simon Fraser: To get a NCAA experience and a Canadian education.
What Is Your Favorite Class You Have Taken And Why: BUS360w (Business Communication). Although it was my lowest grade, I learned so much about communication in the business world.
Who Is Your Favorite Professor And What Did You Enjoy About Learning From Him Or Her: Professor Karen Ruckman. She showed me how closely related economics and business are and can explain a lot of human behaviors in the business world.
Years Involved In SAAC: 3.
The Reason I Chose To Get Involved In SAAC: I value leadership and prioritize it in my daily life.
Most Memorable SAAC Activity: The SAAC Winter Olympics that I organized during my second year.
If I Could Change One NCAA Rule, It Would Be: For athletes to compete for five years.
What Is The Most Important Thing You've Learned From Balancing The Demands Of Athletics And Academics: Time management is everything. You have 24 hours in a day and each minute counts.
What Does It Mean To Be A Division II Student-Athlete: It gives me pride and allows me to grow as both an athlete and a person.
Current Mentor(s): Liam Donnelly (SFU head swim coach), Cory Beate (SFU assistant swim coach), Jason Morawski (club coach), Derek Hanson and Sean Nugent (SFU Strength and Conditioning).
Future Goals After School: Receive my CPA designation and start my own consulting firm.
Biggest Obstacle Overcome During Collegiate Career: Back injury.
Best Advice I’d Give To An Incoming Freshman: Don't party too hard and go to as many classes as you can.
If I Could Spend The Day With One Person (Past Or Present), Who Would It Be (And Why): I would spend a day with my best friends from home, who now go to school with me. They keep me grounded and help me reach my goals, whatever those goals may be.
Favorite Sports Team: SFU Clan.
Favorite Athlete: Ian Thorpe.
Most Memorable Sports-Related Moment: Winning a silver medal at the NCAA Championships during my freshman year.
One Thing That People Don't Know About Me Is: I was a world-ranked Pokémon card player when I was nine years old.