Marquette University Athletics
Crystal Weaver Selected to Participate in NCAA Leadership Conference
5/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
May 21, 2002
MILWAUKEE - Marquette junior Crystal Weaver (Kentwood, Mich.), a member of the women's basketball team, has been selected as Marquette's representative to attend the NCAA Leadership Conference. Weaver will be among 300 student-athletes from NCAA institutions across the country to participate in the conference, held May 26-30 at Walt Disney World's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Weaver was selected among 1,200 nominations to take part in the conference. During the five-day program, student-athletes from across the country will meet to share and develop leadership ideas within the aspects of sports, academics and community service.
Marquette Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Support and Student Programs Tom Ford will also attend the event as member of the conference staff. Ford was a member of the selection committee that chose the conference attendees from the 1,200 nominees.
In conjunction with the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, the NCAA Foundation in 1996 created the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference. The mission of the conference is to provide a diverse group of the nation's top student-athletes an opportunity to actively participate in challenging and thought-provoking activities that will enable them to become better leaders on their campuses and in their communities.
The conference is an outgrowth of the successful CHAMPS/Life Skills Program and involves up to 350 student-athletes representing CHAMPS/Life Skills colleges and universities as well as the national Student-Athlete Advisory Committees. Each institution nominates four student-athletes who have demonstrated an ability or strong desire to be leaders and would benefit from a significant leadership experience. In order to be eligible, applicants must be in good academic standing and must have athletics eligibility remaining in the following academic year.
As a result of participation, student-athletes will enhance their communication skills, decision-making and problem-solving skills, critical-thinking skills and collaborative skills. The conference also promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities. Topics for past conferences have included developing leadership skills; changing perception; developing political skills and utilizing the student-athlete committee.
Weaver is sixth Marquette student-athlete to attend the NCAA Leadership Conference. Jennifer Batie (women's track and field), David Lance (men's track and field), Tom Nolan (men's soccer), Heidi Weidel (women's soccer) and Shari Smith (women's basketball) have all represented Marquette at this event in prior years.
