Freshman Ice Cream Social Photo Gallery
Gatorade Pong Photo Gallery

After earning the 2012-13 PacWest Community Engagement award, the ART U Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) diligently worked throughout the summer to prepare for this year's goals. Under the leadership of the ART U SAAC Board- President Sierra Sanchez Vice President Nick Giotta, Treasurer Samm McAlear and Secretary Angela Heath- one mission is to host new campus events to instill greater unity on campus.


During the start of this semester, SAAC hosted a Freshman Ice Cream Social at the Urban Knights Cafe; open to all incoming freshman and transfers of the ART U Athletics family. The new artist-athletes were given a goodie bag consisting of a campus map, important phone numbers, personal hygiene products and candy.

After the ice cream was devoured, members of SAAC introduced themselves to the incoming freshman and shared a piece called, “I Wish I Knew Freshman Year…”  Wisdom and insight from the upperclassmen included the importance of time management, utilizing the various resources on campus, the power of networking, exploring the city of San Francisco, and how special each artist-athlete is to have the opportunity to make history at the only art university in the NCAA.

“I really enjoyed the Freshman Ice Cream Social this year," said SAAC Treasurer, Samm McAlear. "As an upperclassmen, it gave me a chance to meet the freshmen and find out who are graphic design majors, which gives me the opportunity to check in on them to make sure they're doing well in classes and be there to offer them help when needed. As a freshman, I wish I had someone to help me get adjusted to the work load and how to balance my first semester at the school.”


“I am so proud of the Urban Knights SAAC members who set this new tradition within the ART U Athletics Department," said SAAC Advisor and Assistant Athletic Director, Meghan Bushnell. "We are a unique university; the only art university in the NCAA with a spread out urban campus in downtown San Francisco. The transition from high school to college can be overwhelming and our SAAC servant leaders wanted to help make the next step welcoming and exciting for our new members of the Urban Knights family."


In efforts to celebrate National Alcohol Awareness Week, ART U SAAC hosted the first ever Gatorade Pong last week at the Brannan Basketball Courts. A total of 32 teams came prepared in costume ready to play and successfully raised $346 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.


"Gatorade Pong was such a cool and different way to get everyone together to have fun in honor of a good cause!" said SAAC President, Sierra Sanchez.



“The Gatorade Pong event holds so much potential in helping SAAC with our mission, which is bridging the gap between the general student body and the artist-athletes," said Angela Heath, SAAC Secretary. "Every year we get better at closing the gap; seeing the success from this event is truly something that ART U SAAC should proud of."
 
“ART U's first ever Gatorade Pong was a complete success due to the amount of teamwork involved with this event,” said SAAC Advisor and Assistant Athletic Director, Meghan Bushnell. “On behalf of ART U SAAC, we thank the following Urban Knights:

• President Stephens for allowing us to host this new fundraising tradition
• Academy of Art University Business Operations Department for providing the tables and setting up Brannan Courts
• Academy of Art University Transportation Department for driving the 60+ participants to Brannan Courts
• Sodexo Catering for providing the water pitchers
• Easton Henrikson, for introducing this event to SAAC, as this was a successful event at her alma mater, Cal State Monterey Bay.
• Karmont Mak for donating the Gatorade packets and providing Gatorade jugs
• Evan Aczon and Coach Charles Ryan for being our entertaining MC's for the night
• SAAC Volunteers who helped with set up/clean up- Coach Lauren Smith, Shaquille Howard, Jesseka Raymond, Alyssa Hickey, Lauren Stover, Nicole Smith, Arianna Michaels and Samm McAlear
• All of the Gatorade Pong players who helped raise funds for Make-A-Wish Foundation