Bay Path Student-Athletes, Athletic Trainer Attend NCAA Division III Leadership Conference

LONGMEADOW, Mass.-Junior Dani Turner (Bellow Falls, VT/Bellows Falls Union High School) and Sophomores Vanessa Chaplin (Attleboro, MA/Attleboro High School) and Dajara Wright (Chicopee, MA/Chicopee Comprehensive High School) were selected to represent Bay Path College at the 2010 Division III Northeast Regional Student-Athlete Leadership Conference in Jersey City, New Jersey. The three student-athletes attended the conference with Head Athlete Trainer Danielle Brunelle from January 22-24, 2010.

The conference was established for NCAA Division III student-athletes, coaches and administrators to enhance their personal development and leadership skills in order to positively affect their campus, conference and communities in the future.

As representatives, they participated in numerous educational sessions focused on the development and growth of student-athletes on campus or within their conference. Sessions offered at the conference provide a greater understanding of the NCAA, the Division III governance and legislation process, and the Division III National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Other Division specific and association-wide issues like; sportsmanship, diversity, nutrition, mental health, game environment will also be explored at the conference.

Overall, the students enjoyed the conference and brought back a lot of useful ideas to help their teams and the athletics program. The conference helped the students learn more about themselves as people and as athletes.  Vanessa Chaplin was able to get a lot out of the conference.  "The NCAA Leadership Conference allowed me to think outside the box and evaluate my goals and values as a teammate and leader. I enjoyed being able to interact with athletes from other schools and getting to know them off the field."

The overall goal of the group is to be able to return and actively apply the knowledge gained at the conference to create positive and lasting change throughout the NCAA structure and the Bay Path community.

"Overall I think this was one of the greatest opportunities I have ever had the chance to be a part of. I gained new ways to look at things, think outside the box and made great friends who I hope to continue to be friends with over the next few years," said Dajara Wright.