Buffalo State Welcomes Student-Athletes Back to School

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Buffalo State held its annual “Welcome Back Reception” for approximately 300 student-athletes on Wednesday, August 27 in the Sports Arena. The event for the first CHAMPS (CHallenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success) Life Skills program of the 2003-04 academic.

Following opening remarks from President Muriel A. Howard, Vice President for Student Affairs Hal D. Payne, Athletics Director Jerry Boyes, and CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator Meg Stevens, the student-athletes were split into teams and toured eight stations with 15 presenters on various CHAMPS/Life Skills topic areas. Each student-athlete was given a folder, from the Buffalo State Barnes and Noble, containing pertinent athletics and campus information.

The first station was manned by Jerry Boyes and Tom Koller, Associate Athletics Director, and gave the student-athletes an introduction to athletics administration and informed them about the student-athlete outreach initiatives.

At station No. 2, Head Women’s Basketball Coach Jerome Moss spoke on the importance of academics in athletics, Academic Advisor Josie Adamo gave an explanation of the EDF 207 course, and Head Athletic Trainer Sandy Hollander explained the training room and rehabilitation facilities.

Interim Director of Academic Support Services Roswell Park, Ph.D. and Career Counselor Steve Newton spoke about academic support and services for students with disabilities, as well as on the services offered by the Career Development Center at the third station.

Assistant Director for Weigel Health Center and Gina de Peralta Thorne, a health educator, staffed the fourth stop, educating students on alcohol, drugs, violence, tobacco and other health-related issues.

At station No. 5, Donna Hayes, Assistant Professor of Dietetics and Nutrition, informed the student-athletes about nutrition and eating disorders.

Staff Psychologist Amy Reynolds, Ph.D. spoke about the counseling center and diversity on campus at the sixth station.

At station No. 7, Charlene Brumley, Center for Development of Human Services mediator, and Lt. Samuel Lunetta of the University Police Department, educated the student-athletes about communication, conflict resolution, campus safety, blue lights and self-defense.

The final stop was a tour of the Student-Athlete Lounge, where Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President Aaron Masters and CHAMPS Assistant Pete Montague told students about SAAC and how to be a member, as well as introduced them to the CHAMPS/Life Skills library.

The event concluded with the students enjoying food provided by Sodexho. They also received “Bengals Supporting Bengals” T-shirts from Custom Tee Activewear.





Media Contact:
Jeffrey Ventura, Sports Information Director | 7168786030 | venturjm@buffalostate.edu