2019-2020 HIGHLIGHTS
ONE LOVE CAMPAIGN
Most every SAAC member completed training sessions to become One Love (Escalation) facilitators- educating their student peers about healthy relationships and the prevention of dating abuse/violence. They led workshops for first-time DA student-athletes taking the PE-99 Orientation to Athletics class - hosting sessions in the Fall and Winter. Photo below -
NEW MASCOT & LOGO TASKFORCE
SAAC participated in several rounds of campus discussions, along with DASB representatives and Sport Coaches, as the Dons transistioned to the Mountain Lions during the academic year. SAAC members were able to provide input on the eventual mascot name and design choices.
ONLINE NETWORKS
As the college moved to remote learning in March 2020, SAAC was able to connect with other student-athlete leaders across the country. The group first welcomed a pair of NCAA special guests: Alize Ford (SAAC President at the University of Alabama, Track & Field) and Amelia Smith (Stanford University, Beach Volleyball). SAAC members were able to share experiences in leadership and learn about SAAC at the four-year university level.
TRANSFERS
The first executive officer group including two sophomores - transferring to top universities after graduating in 2020:
President: Daysha Patalot (Cal Berkeley)
Secretary: Adee Newman (UC San Diego)
STATEWIDE COMMITTEE WORK
Newly elected SAAC Secretary Joycie Kaliangara was appointed as a student representative to the Senate Bill 206 (Skinner-D, 2019) Statutory Community College Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness Working Group. She is one of four CCCAA student-athletes on the 14-member committee, which also includes college presidents, athletic administrators, and representatives from the state chancellor's office.
DA STUDENT-ATHLETES BLM VIDEO MESSAGE
Led by the SAAC, current student-athletes released a video on social media to demonstrate support of the BLM Movement. The video included the following statement: "De Anza College student-athletes stand in solidarity with our Black student-athletes and the Black community. Many of us will never know the pain and oppression the Black community has and continues to face. We hear you, we see you, and we stand with you!"