2025-26 Members
President: Dylan Wheeler
MIAC Representatives: A.J. McCleery & Andrew Withuski
Kids Fighting Hunger: Riley Buxell
Diversity & Inclusion: Ben Edwards
Community: A.J. McCleery
Activities: Tim Fultz
One Love: Andrew Withuski
Special Olympics: Carsten Reuter
Folds of Honor: Zander Dittbenner
A student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) is a committee made of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. The SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations and polities that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses.
At Saint John’s we use our unique heritage to help define our SAAC.
To be a part of Saint John’s means, to be a part of a community. It is here in the woods of Collegeville, Minnesota, that incoming boys learn to be men. As men we learn how to take on the responsibility of being a part of a community. When we first enter Saint John’s we have a faint definition of what we think community is. However, over the years we grow and learn the true concept of community. Benedictine values, hospitality, leadership, sportsmanship, and support for one another brings the meaning of community full circle here at Saint John’s.
As student athletes of the University, we represent and reflect Saint John’s and all the values the Saint John’s community believes in. We do this with pride whether we are on the playing field or in the classroom. The knowledge we gain through education by participating in the classroom is the foremost reason for attending Saint John’s. We also know we are athletes and those around us look up to us. We are one of several groups of leaders on campus, and as good leaders we have to demonstrate the appropriate skills which we have learned in the classroom and on the field.
As a SAAC committee member, we were chosen to represent our athletic teams based on how we demonstrate those skills. This is a great honor for us. As the chosen representatives, we see it as our duty to promote a sense of community here at Saint John’s, where we can all be productive members. We want to get involved with the Saint John’s community, and challenge all members of the community to get involved as well. We want the Saint John’s community to feel confident in relying on us, as we need support from them. We want to give back to Saint John’s and the surrounding communities what we can, and make sure this is a safe, clean and positive environment for everyone. Most of all we want to give a feeling of belonging, because here at Saint John’s we are all part of a family. The mission of being community is ever evolving and what we have learned here at Saint John’s University, we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.
Annual SAAC events include:
· Fund Collections for Toys-For Teens
· Fall and Spring Campus Cleanups
· Athletic Formal with proceeds going to The Special Olympics
· Periodic athletic contest promotions
If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas for the Saint John’s SAAC please contact current president or faculty advisor Scott Bierscheid.
For more information on SAAC at a national level go to http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/membership_svcs/saac/index.html.
