Student Leaders to Attend NFHS Summit

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

July 14, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Four members of the Student Advisory Council will represent the MHSAA at the inaugural National Student Leadership Summit hosted by the National Federation of State High School Associations from July 20-22 in Indianapolis.  

Ben Kowalske of Livonia Stevenson, Bekah Myler of Gaylord St. Mary, Trevor Trierweiler of Portland and Greta Wilker of Belding will join an expected group of at least 100 students who are active in leadership programs in their home states.

Students will be split into groups for instructive discussions on communication with peers and adults, relationship building, social media usage and proper perspective in high school athletics. Attendees also will participate in a community service project with the Indiana Special Olympics.

MHSAA assistant director Andy Frushour, who advises the Student Advisory Council, will be among state association staff serving as adult ambassadors. 

Check back at the end of July to learn how the Summit will help Michigan's representatives continue to provide strong student voices in educational athletics. Click to learn more on the Student Advisory Council.  

MHSAA Names new SAC members

May 1, 2012

Eight student-athletes who will be juniors at their schools during the 2012-13 academic year have been selected to serve a two-year term on the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Student Advisory Council.

The Student Advisory Council is a 16-member group which provides feedback on issues impacting educational athletics from a student’s perspective, and also is involved in the operation of Association championship events and other programming. Members of the Student Advisory Council serve for two years, beginning as juniors. Eight new members are selected annually to serve on the SAC, with nominations made by MHSAA member schools. The incoming juniors will join the group of eight seniors-to-be appointed a year ago.

Selected to begin serving on the Student Advisory Council in 2012-13 are: Ryan Fischer, Grandville; Emileigh Ferguson, Bear Lake; Kristen Law, Bloomfield Hills Andover; Madeleine Martindale, Lake Orion; Kiersten Mead, Saginaw Swan Valley; Zachary Nine, Pinconning; Coby Ryan, Manistique; and Hayden Smith, Hamilton.

The first Student Advisory Council was formed for the 2006-07 school year. Members have represented 48 schools from 29 leagues plus independent schools that do not play in a league. Combined, the new appointees have participated in 14 MHSAA sports, and all eight will be the first SAC members from their respective schools.

The Student Advisory Council meets six times each school year, and once more for a 24-hour leadership camp. In addition to assisting in the promotion of the educational value of interscholastic athletics, the council discusses issues dealing with the 4 S’s of educational athletics: scholarship, sportsmanship, safety (including health and nutrition) and the sensible scope of athletic programs. There also is a fifth S discussed by the group -- student leadership.

This school year, the Council created and also judged the inaugural “Battle of the Fans” contest as a way to promote positive sportsmanship.

The new additions to the SAC will join the Class of 2013 members who were selected a year ago: Abigail Radomsky, Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central;  Matthew Freeman, Owosso; Carly Joseph, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; Ellesse Lehman, Portland St. Patrick;  Kyle Short, Rockford; Evan Lamb, Rogers City; Thye Fischman, Vandercook Lake; and Taylor Krumm, Walled Lake Central.