By Nafeesa Connolly and Kate Joseph
Staff Writers

Senior crew student-athletes Aris Walker and Jane Walsh were selected to attend the 2013 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, one of the largest non-competitive gatherings of NCAA student-athletes.

Walker and Walsh were among more than 350 student-athletes and 125 athletics professionals from Division I, II, and III, in the Northeast region of the U.S.

Nominated by Assistant Athletic Director Jana’e Johnson, Walker and Walsh attended the forum, which was held in Providence, Rhode Island in early November, for being leaders on campus.

According to the NCAA, the forum allows student-athletes to enhance personal awareness and strengthen leadership skills that will positively impact their campus, conference, and lives beyond college.

“I had an awesome time while I was there,” said Walsh.

Walker added, “The experience was that of once in a lifetime. To have learned as much as I did and met as many people as I did in such an open and comfortable forum was absolutely amazing.”

Student-athletes were also able to hear from several speakers, including former Celtics player Chris Herren, who shared his life-changing experience with drug and alcohol abuse and decision making at an early age.

“I really enjoyed the speakers. Each of their stories really pertained to the topics that we were covering in our individual groups about working with others, while focusing on how important it is to be comfortable and happy with what I’m personally accomplishing,” said Walsh.

Walker and Walsh also participated in a team-building exercise with other attendees, creating stuffed animals and fleece blankets benefiting Providence’s St. Mary’s Home for Children.

As seniors entering the working world, both agreed that lessons learned at the forum will help them along their professional career paths.

“I learned that there are different ways to work with different personalities on the team and nothing works uniformly,” said Walsh.

“I learned so much. I learned about who I am as a leader and a person. I learned what it takes to grow emotionally and what it really means to be successful leader,” said Walker. “What I learned from my peer athletes and the athletic facilitators/professionals I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Senior volleyball student-athlete Nafeesa Connolly also attended the forum on behalf of Simmons and as vice-chair of the Division III National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), a committee of 22 student-athletes across the country.

Connolly, along with two other SAAC members, presented on what National SAAC is, their main duties, the Special Olympics partnership, and roundtable discussions on hot topics in Division III such as the recruitment process.

When asked what each would like to bring back to campus, Walsh responded, “The Division III relationship to the Special Olympics. I didn’t know that we had that connection and I think we should address it and try to have an event to bring us together.”

Walker said, “I hope to bring back confidence – confidence to know who I am and to lead as just myself. To trust my instincts but to ask for help often. I want to bring all the joy and knowledge I absorbed and give it back to my team and peers.”