Oct. 22, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
In an effort to reach more high school student-athletes, the Illinois State Athletics Compliance Office, in conjunction with the ISU Office of Admissions and the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), announced that it will be conducting a "Got 16?" NCAA initial-eligibility seminar Monday, Nov. 5, from 7-9 p.m. at the Glenwood High School Auditorium in Chatham, Ill.
Associate Athletics Director for Compliance Cindy Harris and her staff has added this seminar in an attempt to educate Springfield-area high school student-athletes on the new NCAA initial-eligibility requirements that go into effect in the fall of 2008.
"I am just not positive that everyone has gotten the message early enough in their high school careers that they know they have to have 16 core courses to be eligible to compete at the Division I level," said Harris. "Over the years, I have traveled around the state talking to high schools about these requirements, but have not ever done so in the Springfield, Ill., area. I know that Springfield and the surrounding area high schools are laden with talented, college-bound student-athletes. It's about time we went down there and offered the same educational tools that we offer our local high school student-athletes in the Bloomington-Normal area. We are grateful to Glenwood High School for hosting us and hopeful that the message is getting around to those who need it, and that they turn out Nov. 5th."
The seminar is geared toward high school student-athletes, coaches, parents, athletics directors and guidance counselors. Topics that will be covered in the presentation include NCAA core courses, core grade-point average, test scores (ACT and SAT), registering for the NCAA Clearinghouse, official visits, strategies and perspectives on improving test scores and what it is really like to be a college student-athlete.
"This is a crucial year for this event," said Harris. "Failure to meet the new NCAA requirement can have profound consequences on the plans that some of these student-athletes have for themselves."
Not only is this event being held Nov. 5th at Glenwood High School, it is also scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 11, from 6-8 p.m. in the Bone Student Center Ballroom on Illinois State's campus.
For additional information, please visit GoRedbirds.com, and click on the "Got 16?" logo. Additional information on the "Got 16?" seminar may be obtained by contacting the compliance office at 309/438-2677 or via e-mail at caharri@ilstu.edu.
