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When one thinks of the term "athlete", images of sports immediately pops into your head. At the collegiate level we place the term "student" in front of "athlete", which signals the fact that not only does this person play a sport, but he/she does so while simultaneously studying to earn a degree in a specific discipline. Since having the talent to be able to perform great physical feats at a rapid pace is undoubtedly admired, it is no wonder that student-athletes are regarded as leaders since they not only train hard but study hard as well. For Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute senior
Michelle Denny, her role as a leader doesn't stop as a student-athlete.
For the past two years, Denny has not only balanced being a learning assistant, and playing lacrosse while majoring in materials engineering and biomedical engineering,but she has done so while holding the highest leadership position as an athlete: Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President! With a passion for community service and a strong desire to strengthen the presence of athletic leaders, Denny could think of no better role for herself.
"I really believed in how the organization strove to unify student-athletes on campus and in the community, and was really excited about the opportunity to help shape the organization," she said.
What intrigued Michelle the most about being President of SAAC was the opportunity to have a positive impact on the communities she is a part of. Since serving in her role Denny has helped organize SAAC Kids' Day, an annual on-campus Special Olympics event, and a canned food drive. One of her most memorable events she hosted came at Homecoming in October when she was able to let people know what SAAC is while getting soaked by a water gun during a unique game of ping-pong.
Since her position serves as a bridge from athletes to administration, Denny has had the opportunity to connect and unite athletes from all sports. Her role has also afforded her the ability to leave her mark on RPI for years to come, by serving on the planning committee for the Inaugural Men's Hockey Mayor's Cup Game between RPI and Union College held at the Times Union Center. Such an event opened an avenue for Denny to network with members of the Rensselaer Union E-board and administration.
As Denny prepares for her transition from student to professional in her last semester at RPI, she urges those coming behind her to get involved.
"Show interest! Most of the E-board is graduating this year and we will be looking for people who are interested in taking leadership roles in the organization for the next year."
Being SAAC President not only allowed Denny to serve her community on and off campus, but it also afforded her great professional development, which will pay off greatly as she begins her career working for Timken Company as a member of their Steel Business Associate program. Now when one thinks of the term "athlete", they will know that it is so much more than merely the ability to play a sport!
