Four ASC Students to Attend 2017 NCAA Convention in Nashville

Four student-athletes from three member institutions will represent the ASC at the NCAA Convention.

12/15/2016 8:28:16 AM

NCAA Convention | Schedule

RICHARDSON, Texas –– Through the NCAA Division III Strategic Initiative Grant funding, the American Southwest Conference will be sending four student-athletes to the 2017 NCAA Convention at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee, January 18-21.

Four student-athletes from three member institutions will represent the ASC at the NCAA Convention. From Belhaven University, women’s tennis player Mary Lichlyter, from LeTourneau University women's cross country runner and golfer Faith Williams, and from The University of Texas at Dallas, men’s cross country runner Alireza Nourani-Dargiri and women's volleyball player Fayna Zeng.

Several key issues regarding student-athletes in Division III athletics will be discussed at the NCAA Convention. Some of the topics to be addressed by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) will be independent medical care, eligibility for graduate and post-baccalaureate transfers, financial aid from outside resources, playing and practice seasons and recruiting.

Below are the student-athletes’ statements regarding attending NCAA Convention and the importance of playing an active role in the decision making process.

Belhaven University / Mary Lichlyter
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to gain knowledge about the NCAA Convention and Division III. After attending the convention, I look forward to sharing my experience on campus with my teammates and fellow students. I hope that learning information about the NCAA and Division III will ignite a response from students at Belhaven and encourage them to get involved as much as possible.”

LeTourneau University / Faith Williams
“By attending the NCAA Convention, I will be a better voice for SAAC and my fellow students. I believe it’s vital to LeTourneau that we know what is going on in the NCAA, especially because we are a smaller private college. By going to convention I will be able to bring back and give tangible knowledge to my fellow students. Students understand and recognize SAAC and what it does; however, I don’t think they fully comprehend the crucial role students play at the NCAA Convention.”

University of Texas at Dallas / Alireza Nourani-Dargiri
“Attending the NCAA Convention will allow me to not only share my experience and newfound knowledge with the Athletic department at UT Dallas, but also with the rest of the university, specifically regarding student affairs. As the Co-Chair for New Student Programs at UTD, I oversee many of the institution's programs dealing with incoming freshman students. Going to convention, I can learn ways other schools are engaging their student body in every sporting discipline and not only relay that information to our SAAC, but take steps to implement changes on campus.”

University of Texas at Dallas / Fayna Zeng
“I believe I will obtain more knowledge on how the NCAA makes decisions regarding student-athletes and institutions. I’ve always wanted to know why and how the rules and regulations are the way they are and how they get decided. I’m also excited to meet SAAC members from other conferences.”

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