Crown's Lottie Ellis appointed to NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.---Serving on a NCAA Division III committee is a highly-competitive and unique experience that allows individuals from member institutions to play a direct and integral part in the governance and development of the membership.
This is an even more unique opportunity for student-athletes. While student-athletes and their collegiate experience are at the core of the NCAA, only 22 of these bright young adults get the chance at the Division III level each year to serve as part of the
national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
The SAAC represents the Division III student-athlete voice in the Division III governance structure by reviewing legislation; identifying significant student-athlete issues; implementing national student-athlete based initiatives; encouraging community outreach; and enhancing Division III student-athlete involvement in and understanding of Division III in general.
The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) and member institution Crown College will see one of its own student-athletes serve in this prestigious role as sophomore soccer and softball standout Lottie Ellis has been selected for a three-year term beginning in January 2019 at the NCAA Convention in Orlando, Florida.
“We are excited to have Lottie serve the UMAC at the national level as a member of Division III SAAC,” said UMAC Commissioner Corey Borchardt. “She has proven leadership abilities which helped her shine among a group of strong candidates from the conference. We know she will give our student-athletes a strong voice within the Division and will represent the UMAC well.”
NCAA Division III SAAC is structured to have one member represent and serve two conference through a partner conference model. Ellis will serve both the UMAC and its partner conference – the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) – through the close of NCAA Convention in 2022. UMAC institutions nominated student-athletes for the position and Ellis was selected for service by the Division III nominating committee.
“To be selected as a representative of NCAA Division III SAAC is an honor,” said Ellis. “I feel privileged to serve the UMAC and MIAC conference and this opportunity is something that I am excited to partake in. I wanted to serve in this role because I have recently begun to understand my own leadership abilities, and over the course of my time at Crown, I have developed a deeper passion for student-athletes and all of the time they dedicate to their athletics and academics.
“With my passion for Division III student-athletes paired with the ability to facilitate discussion and serve in leadership roles, I thought that the opportunity to serve in this representative position was a great fit for me. This experience will continue to shape my strengths by allowing me to become a stronger leader, preparing me for life after Crown both professionally and socially.”
Though just a sophomore, Ellis has proven she is capable of taking on a multitude of roles and responsibilities. Ellis is a captain of both the women’s soccer and softball teams and is part of the Crown SAAC. Additionally, Ellis attended the first-ever UMAC Student-Athlete Leadership Academy in September. She has also taken on two majors in both youth and family ministry and Christian studies.
What sets her apart, though, is her tireless dedication to everything she does, according to Jamie Ross, director of athletics, women’s soccer and softball coach at Crown. “Lottie has distinguished herself as a hard worker that cares about others,” said Ross. “She has high expectations of herself that she will work tirelessly to meet her own expectations and will certainly meet and exceed others’ expectations of her. She serves both of the teams she plays on and ensures that all of her teammates are represented.”
While Ellis will not assume her role as a full member of the Division III SAAC until January, she has already been immersed in the work of the committee in the new SAAC associate member role. In January, the Division III membership voted to add an associate member liaison role that would enhance student-athlete leadership in the governance and allow for better communication for conferences who do not have a full member on SAAC.
The associate member is not an active or voting member of the SAAC, which allows the Division III SAAC to remain at a manageable size. Associate members provide additional feedback on Division III and Association issues and can attend the July meeting and NCAA Convention.
Ellis began her appointment as the partner conference associate member for the UMAC and MIAC in August, and will be part of a one-time group that will move immediately into a full member role in January.
When she assumes her role on Division III SAAC, Ellis will attend three in-person meetings at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis and the annual NCAA Convention. She will speak with UMAC and MIAC administrators at Convention to provide the perspective of SAAC on key legislative proposals. SAAC is a critical voice in Division III when it comes to legislation.
Additionally, national SAAC works throughout the year to discuss relevant issues impacting Division III student-athletes such as mental health and well-being. The committee develops new initiatives and materials to assist campus SAAC groups in their work at the institutional level. Finally, SAAC participates regularly in activities with Special Olympics and encourages members to do the same.
“We are excited for this opportunity for Lottie to represent Crown at the UMAC at the national level,” Ross said. “We have no doubt that she will perform her duties in an exemplary manner and are certain that she will be a clear voice at the national level. We could not be more proud of her!”