Date Posted: 9/21/2007

MACON, Ga. – At the September 2006 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meeting in Nashville, Tenn., the student-athletes determined that the second annual fundraising competition among their schools would be to see who could raise the most money for its local chapter of the American Cancer Society. Eleven of the Atlantic Sun Conference institutions participated in the competition which concluded in May. Through their joint efforts, the schools combined to raise $17,386.21, more than triple the amount of what the schools raised during the 2006 competition ($4,839.07). That year, the money was donated to the United Service Organizations, Inc (USO).

In the inaugural fundraiser, the leading school was UNF; it raised a total of $1,250.17. During the 2006-07 competition, the Ospreys again led the way, bettering the combined total of the conference from the 2006 campaign. UNF’s student-athletes combined to raise $4,970.20. For its effort, UNF will receive a plaque at the SAAC Meetings to be held at UNF on January 25-26, 2008. Mercer’s student-athletes gave UNF a strong run, collecting $4,480.

"The A-Sun student-athletes continually amaze me," said Commissioner Ted Gumbart. "At a time in their lives when academic, athletic, and social activities provide more than a full schedule for any one of them, they still place a priority on citizenship and giving back. We are extremely proud of their leadership and initiative, and congratulate them on the significant funding they raised for such a worthy cause."

The purpose of the SAAC is to promote and actively encourage the involvement of student-athletes on campus and in their communities, while allowing those student-athletes to have an open line of communication to voice their concerns to institutional administrations and the conference office.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.