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SAAC/CHAMPS Life Skills Program

Fitchburg State College participates in the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program.  This program uses educational programming and philanthropic programming to help our student-athletes to ultimately become future citizens and more well-rounded indivduals.  This education is done within the five areas of the program (see below). 

In association with this program, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee consists of representatives from every team on campus.  These student-athletes are chosen by their coaches and/or peers as the leaders of their team. 

This education is done within the five areas of the program: 

Athletic Excellence

The goal of this prong of the program is to help impact our student-athletes on the playing field.  One example of how our institution has worked towards this goal is to bring in a sports nutritionist to present to our student-athletes.  We also strive to recoginize each teams' accomplishments through the Team of the Year program but encouraging attendance at events for all of our intercollegiate teams.  This increases the awareness of all of our student-athletes and helps to foster friendships throughout the athletic teams.

Personal Development

Substance abuse, leadership, and responsibility have all been addressed though the CHAMPS/Life Skills program through a variety of presentations and speakers.  In November of 2008 the FSC athletic department will be hosting a leadership conference incorporating local high school student-athlete leaders.  We hope to accomplish increasing a sense of community leadership through this program.

Academic Excellence

Recognition of our student-athelets has been paramount to our program.  We have recognized our top student-athletes on National Student-Athlete Day in a variety of ways, most recently in a recognition luncheon with the president of the college.  We have also had several Howard C. Smith award winners, most recently in 2008.  This award is given to the top student-athlete in the MASCAC conference.

Service

This is a large component of the program.  We work with the American Red Cross annually to run a very successful spring blood drive.  We have also begun a relationship with Habitat for Humanity which we hope to continue in 2008.  The student-athletes have collected clothing and canned good for those who are less fortunate.  Finally, we look to run a bone marrow donor drive in the fall of 2008

Career Development

We look annually to give our students the best available resources to achieve their goals after college.  The program has presented resume writing workshops in the past.  There has also been a close relationship with Career Services in the past that has helped bring student-athlete alumni back to campus to speak to how their personal experiences within athletics helped with their job search and how it helps them daily with their career.

The CHAMPS/Life Skills Program is administered by Michelle Walsh, CHAMPS Life Skills Coordinator.  For questions please contact Michelle at 978-665-4681 or mwalsh61@fsc.edu.