SAAC and Alumni Network

The Second Annual Alumni Networking Event sponsored by the Nichols Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) took place on April 11th in Daniels Auditorium. Alumni-athletes made their own introductions and then chatted with students during a reception catered by Sodexo Dining Services.

SAAC President Ron Powers '08 welcomed guests and introduced Director of Athletics Charlie Robert, who discussed this year's mantra for the Nichols Athletics Department: "Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger."  

"We have been riding a wave of success and it has come from everyone's contribution," said Robert, referring to the legacy left by the alumni-athletes, the hard work of SAAC, of students and athletic staff, as well as strong support from Nichols administration.

Margaret Lilly '10 and Jeffrey Lindgren '09 made a presentation on a new sportsmanship code called BISON PRIDE:

BISON PRIDE
All as one (student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff, fans)  we unite through Nichols College Athletics, to represent our community by:

B=Business: applying ourselves to all matters in and out of the classroom

I=Inspire: encouraging teammates and opponents in a positive manner

S=Strive: making steady efforts toward a common goal

O=Opportunity: creating advantages for others through benevolent acts

N=Neighboring: benefiting and accepting individuals within our campus and surrounding community

The event closed with an alumni panel discussion featuring Vincent D'Amato '94, Dan Papazian '04, and Jess Burke Vassall '02. Ron Powers '08 asked each panelist to respond to the following:  

• Please share some of the challenges you first faced when entering the job market and how you overcame them.
• What are some of the experiences that you've had as a Nichols student-athlete that you used in your career?
• If you had a choice between college life or working life, which would you pick, and why?

The evening was a huge success thanks to the following alumni attendees: Marcia Behrens '78 MBA '89; Shannon Curtis '06; Ken Karter '06; Heather Clarke '06; Vincent D'Amato '94; Ryan Fasold '03, Keith Meehan '94; Frank Michienzi '94; Holly Munce '99; Rob Munce '99 MBA '01; Bill O'Connell '79; Dan Papazian '04; Kate Roberts '04; David Sokolnicki '97 MBA '99; Dave Twiss '01; Jessica Burke Vassall '02; Aida Volpone '99; Amahl Williams '02.