Aug. 5, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
Junior Scott Krapf earned four All-Missouri Conference accolades as a student-athlete for the Illinois State track and field and cross country teams last season and will now represent Illinois State and the Valley on a national level, as Krapf was selected as the Valley's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) representative to the NCAA.
Krapf will be replacing former Illinois State golfer Ryan Brown, who held the national representative position from 2006-08. Krapf, who will serve a two-year term, will help to shape the proposed legislation, while offering input about policies concerning Division I athletics.
"This is an opportunity that not many student-athletes get," said Krapf. "This is a great way for Illinois State and the Valley to be heard on a national level and I am honored to be able to represent our school and conference in this capacity. I know that I have some large shoes to fill, but I have had quite a few chances to converse with Ryan and I understand the dedication that it is going to take. He laid the ground work for me and I am excited to be able to speak on behalf of my peers."
Krapf's appointment began in July when he was nominated by the Valley to the NCAA Division I national SAAC selection committee. Three student-athletes from the 10 Valley member institutions were nominated to the national post. The NCAA then voted and appointed representatives, based on their diversity needs (race and sport) and the nominees' qualifications. The Danville, Ill., native, joins just 30 other student-athletes from each of the 31 NCAA Division I conferences.
"This is truly a testament to the type of young men and women that we have on Illinois State's campus and in our athletics department," said Illinois State Director of Athletics Dr. Sheahon Zenger. "I'm positive that Scott will represent the student-athletes of the Missouri Valley Conference at the highest level, and build on the leadership that our own Ryan Brown provided the Valley's SAAC committee over the last two years."
Currently serving as the Illinois State SAAC President for the 2008-09 school year, Krapf will represent the views of ISU student-athletes while meeting with other representatives from Valley schools. Krapf helped to explain his duties and new appointment as the MVC's SAAC ambassador.
"Each representative is responsible for gathering feedback and reporting on behalf of their conference, as well as relaying important events, hot topics and educational information to both the campus and conference levels," said Krapf. "In addition to relaying information across campuses and conferences, the representative speaks on the behalf of the entire Division I student-athlete body throughout the NCAA governance structure. There is one National Division I SAAC representative that sits on each of the NCAA sub-committees, in order to provide the student-athlete perspective on certain topics."
