Friday, May 21, 2021

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: Sydney Brown
Sport: Softball
Institution: Central Washington University
Year: Senior
Major: Integrated Energy Management
Hometown: Vancouver, Washington

Why Did You Choose To Attend Central Washington?: I chose to attend Central Washington because there were so many different academic programs to choose from and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study. I also chose CWU because the softball team has a positive culture and the players seemed close.

What Is Your Favorite Class You Have Taken And Why?: My favorite class was Energy Management. I was able to apply several concepts that I learned in this class to my internships. This class was a building block for my other classes and it set a solid foundation for the rest of my academic career.

Who Is Your Favorite Professor And What Did You Enjoy About Learning From Him Or Her?: My favorite professor is Dr. Elvin Delgado. His lectures are fun and relatable and he helped me discover a love for my major. His classes are intense but they have shaped my education.

Years Involved In SAAC: Four years.

The Reason You Chose To Get Involved In SAAC: I wanted to be heard as a student-athlete and give back to the Ellensburg community.

Most Memorable SAAC Activity To Date: Trunk or Treat.

How Do You Feel Participating In SAAC Will Help You In Life After You Graduate?: Participating in SAAC allows me to understand how policies and legislations work.

What Does It Mean To You To Be A Division II Student-Athlete?: We don’t often get the same amount of recognition as Division I student-athletes, but we still have similar experiences.

What Is The Most Important Thing You’ve Learned About Balancing Athletics And Academics?: The most important thing is time management and learning how to prioritize my schedule.

Biggest Obstacle Overcome During Your Collegiate Career: Adjusting to a new coach after the season had already started.

Favorite Thing About Competing In The GNAC: I enjoy being able to travel to other states and play the game I love.

Most Memorable Sports-Related Moment: When we traveled to Las Vegas during my freshman year, we decided that it was a good idea to pack almost the entire team into one elevator. We ended up being stuck in the elevator for over an hour.

Best Advice You’d Give To An Incoming Freshman: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Take risks and make friends outside of your team. Whether you meet people in the dorms, in your classes or from other sports teams, it’s important to build those relationships.

If You Could Spend The Day With One Person (Past Or Present), Who Would It Be (And Why)?: I would spend the day with my papa. He experienced so much in his life. He was in the military, played minor league baseball and was an amazing family man. I would love to hear about his fondest memories and biggest accomplishments.

Extracurricular Activities: Outside of softball, I am a huge family person. I spend as much time with my family and friends as possible.

Future Goals After Graduation: I want to continue to grow in my field and organize energy improvement projects for a major city.

Favorite Sports Team: Seattle Mariners.

Favorite Athlete: Michael Copeland.

One Thing People Don’t Know About You Is: I can be a complete spaz if I’m with the right people.