April 4, 2008

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - In accordance with National Student-Athlete Day, celebrated each year on April 6, the Bowling Green State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will turn their focus to the universities' faculty and staff who have made an impact on the lives of those bearing Orange and Brown jerseys.

In order to show their appreciation to someone who has gone out of their way to help BG's student-athletes balance their commitment to academics and athletics SAAC is asking every athlete to choose one faculty member to write a thank you to and then hand deliver around National Student-Athlete Day. The 2007-08 academic year will mark the second time in which SAAC has organized the event.

Additionally, SAAC will be holding a dessert reception on April 9 at the Sebo Center, to honor faculty and staff members. Each SAAC representative will invite one of their current or past professors to be recognized at this event. Certificates and BGSU pins will be presented to each honoree. The event is expected to start at 7:30 p.m. and run until 9:30 with the main program taking place in the 8:00 hour.

"It is very important for our faculty and staff to realize just how big a role they play in the lives of our student-athletes," said SAAC advisor, Mary Kay Coulter. "So very often, we have seen these members of the BGSU campus community cheering for us at events; saying thank you and cheering for them in return is the least we can do."

Celebrated annually on April 6 since 1987, National Student-Athlete Day is America's day to celebrate outstanding student-athletes who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics while having made significant contributions to the community. It is also a time to recognize those parents, teachers, coaches and school systems which make it possible for young people to find the balance between academics and athletics. For more information on National Student-Athlete Day click HERE.