Student Athlete Advisory Committee Profile- Cassie Wendt
LA GRANDE, Ore.- The Cascade Collegiate Conference sponsors a Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) made up of representatives from each member institution. The function of the committee is to; discuss and provide feedback on conference issues affecting student-athlete welfare, assist in educating student athletes about CCC/NAIA issues on their home campus, increase and improve student-athletes' understanding of the CCC and NAIA Legislative process, promote student-athlete participation in department wide Champions of Character programs and provide a forum for addressing student-athlete concerns.
The CCC office caught up with Cassie Wendt who is one of the committee representattives from Eastern Oregon and participates in softball. Cassie is begiining her second year as a member of SAAC.
Student Athlete: Cassie Wendt, Eastern Oregon
Softball
Major/Minor- Physical Activity and Health with a concentration in Exercise Science
SR
GPA - 3.8
Hometown- Spokane WA
High School Attended- Ferris High School
Parent’s - Craig and Darci Wendt
CC- How did you choose Eastern Oregon to continue your athletic and academic career?
CW- When looking for colleges to attend, EOU was a place where I could both study Exercise Science and continue to play softball. The small college atmosphere was a large deciding factor in coming to Eastern. The class sizes and student-professor relationships are exactly what I was looking for.
CC- What are some of the demands of being a student athlete?
CW- Being a student athlete means that you are in a spotlight. There are very high expectations for the student athlete, both on the field and in the classroom. Outside of taking a full load of credits every term, you are expected to be at morning workouts and afterschool practice every day while maintaining your own personal health and grades.
CC- What are some of your best experiences so far, both academically and athletically at college?
CW- Academically, my best experience is my classes that go along with my major. I have found a deep passion for the human body and performance and recovery as well as a passion for exercise and fighting against obesity in our nation. Every class that is required for my major is an amazing experience. Athletically, being a part of a team is my best experience. The softball team won academic team of the year at our school last year, which is a huge accomplishment for us.
CC- Who are some influential people in your life at EOU?
CW- Definitely Coach Westermann. Her enthusiasm for the sport and for coaching is amazing and she is also a great person to go and talk to. She pushes us hard everyday to not only become better athletes, but to be better people off the field. One of my professors, Kelly Rice, also has influenced me so much in my field of study. Her desire for studying childhood obesity and changing the nation through exercise has made me realize that it is also a priority in my life.
CC- When not competing or studying what do you do for fun?
CW- I love to workout and write workout programs, so I spend a lot of time in the gym. I love to go to my job and make money. Outside of those two things, the outdoors around La Grande is very fun to explore. Huckleberry picking was one of the highlights of my summer.
CC- What do you hope to accomplish as a member of the CCC-SAAC?
CW- I hope to accomplish a positive student athlete experience for all of the student athletes in the CCC. I want to take the concerns here at EOU to the CCC-SAAC and see what we can do at a conference level to assist with making EOU and our other CCC schools a better place for athletes.
CC- What do you see yourself doing after graduation?
CW- I am currently applying for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at various schools. I am planning to go to three more years of school and then move back to the Spokane area to start my career.