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NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program
http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/ed_outreach/champs-life_skills/index.html
The CHAMPS/Life Skills program was created as a total development program for student-athletes. The program is designed to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience within the University setting. CHAMPS include five areas of development: Academic Excellence, Athletic Excellence, Personal Development, Career Development, and Commitment to Service. Within the five areas of development, students have the opportunity to grow personally and professional. Students have leadership opportunities through the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). CHAMPS help students pursue their educational, athletic and career goals.
Athletic Excellence
Rochelle Athletic Center (RAC): Upon its opening on 31 August 2001, the RAC ushered in a new era in University of Wyoming Athletics. The RAC will serve to meet the academic and athletic needs of all 17 University of Wyoming intercollegiate sports. Containing 46,140 square feet, the state-of-the-art facility houses: a 4,470 square foot academic and counseling center; a 4,829 square foot sports medicine facility; a 5,697 square foot locker room for the Cowboy Football team; and an 8,633 square foot strength and conditioning area. The RAC also has display areas for the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame, chronicling the great men and women who have built the legacy of Cowboy and Cowgirl Athletics.
Athletic Eligibility Monitoring: The Academic Support Services staff works with the Faculty Athletic Representative, Registrar, and Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance to monitor the student-athlete's athletic eligibility in accordance with University, Mountain West Conference and NCAA requirements.
Personal Development
Academic Support: Our staff is concerned with the personal well being and development of student-athletes. We encourage individuals to share any concerns or problems with a member of our staff. Furthermore, appropriate referrals can be made for student-athletes seeking additional services.
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC): SAAC was created to facilitate greater interaction between athletics administration and the student-athlete. This relationship helps enhance the student-athlete's ability to deal with the increased challenges presented in being both a student and an athlete.
Career Development
Campus Resources: Academic Support Services works with Career Services to provide development, job, and internship placement specifically for student-athletes.
Future Plans: Our staff is currently working on providing a successful network of employers and mentors who aid student-athletes with job placement, internships, and post-graduate employment. Our staff will also assemble a collection of resumes to distribute to this network of employers and mentors.
Commitment to Service
The purpose of this area of CHAMPS is to introduce the student-athlete to the benefits of investing in others' lives. Through community outreach, student-athletes are instilled with a life-long spirit of giving. Through participating in various community service events, student-athletes have the opportunity to:
Community service helps students look beyond the campus environment and broaden their views of our world today. It also helps the student-athletes help make a difference in the Laramie community.
University of Wyoming student-athletes work with various organization and schools in the Laramie community. The activities that the students are involved with include collecting food for the Salvation Army to reading at local schools.
CHAMPS Cup Saddle Trophy Competition
The CHAMPS Cup Saddle Trophy is awarded to the team that demonstrates the greatest commitment to the CHAMPS Lifeskills program. Scores are determined based on a team's athletics performance, academic accomplishments, service to others, commitment to career development and efforts in personal development. Points are awarded for participation in activities such as workshops, resume creation, volunteer service and screenings.
Each year, the winning team is presented with the Cowboy CHAMPS Cup traveling saddle trophy. This saddle was made exclusively for this competition. The original idea for the saddle as the trophy originated with SAAC, who saw it as a symbol of the spirit of Wyoming.
In 2004-2005, the women's soccer team and women's track team tied as winners of the first annual Cowboy CHAMPS Cup. In 2005-2006, women's soccer repeated for a solo win.
Led by head coach, Anne Moore, and captains, Kara Walters & Kristen Stangl, the women's soccer team showed a true commitment to excellence not only in athletics, but also in academics, personal development, service to others and career development. On the field and in the classroom, they had a winning season and a team grade point average of over 3.0. The student-athletes participated in many community service activities, including hosting soccer clinics for local youth. All members of the team created resumes at a well-received resume workshop. Additionally, the athletes took part in campus programs such as a Title IX lecture and alcohol education programming.
 CHAMPS Program of Excellence award  |
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Program of Excellence
In September, the University of Wyoming was awarded the Program of Excellence Award by the Division I Athletic Director's Association. The Program of Excellence is awarded to Division 1A CHAMPS programs that have displayed a highly effective and pervasive program benefiting their student-athletes in the five components of the CHAMPS program. This national award recognizes UW's excellence in all areas of student-athlete development.
Recognized Student Organization Community Service Award Winners
In 2005-2006, SAAC won the first annual Recognized Student Organization (RSO) Community Service Award. This award acknowledges the student-athletes as leaders in service among their fellow students. SAAC organized a service event every month for the entire school year, including a record-breaking blood drive, which collected 85 pints of blood, more collected at UW since 1989. They also raised over $500 for a Christmas Party for children for low-income families, collected over $11,000 at a football game for families affected by Hurricane Katrina, and collected over 1,000 items of clothing and food, donated to area charities.
