Student Athlete Advisory Committee Profile- Kiki McDonagh
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 Kiki McDonagh who is one of the SAAC committee representatives from Warner Pacific and participates in women's track and field.
Kiki McDonagh, WPC
Women’s Track and Field
Major/Minor- Biology
Senior
Hometown- Vancouver, WA
High School Attended- Vancouver School of Arts
Parent’s Names- Stephen and Gwen McDonagh
CC- How did you choose WPC to continue your athletic and academic career?
KM- After my second year of soccer at Lane Community College I realized that continuing to do collegiate sports was something that I really wanted. My soccer coach at Lane got me connected with the coaches up here and before I knew it here I was. I also wanted to be closer to home for family reasons and it just seemed like the best option for me at that time in my life.
CC- What are some of the demands of being a student athlete?
KM- Staying on top of your school work and really communicating with your professors. It is a balancing act that takes a lot of time and effort.
CC- What are some of your best experiences so far, both academically and athletically at college?
KM- I think my best experiences are just creating new relationships with people both on a sports team as well as in the classroom. Athletically I think the highlights for me were the all region and all star awards I received at Lane as well as competing in my first heptathlon for track this past season at WPC. I love trying new things.
CC- Who are some influential people in your life at WPC?
KM- My Athletic Director Jamie Joss has been a very influential person for me at WPC because he is just such a good person and I think he exhibits his love for his student athletes tremendously. I think he really just models what it looks like to be a good human being and that is something that I think is important to strive for.
CC- When not competing or studying what do you do for fun?
KM- I love to dance. I am the president of the Pacific Islanders Club at WPC and so when I’m not training or studying, I put a lot of my time and effort into creating a good show for the upcoming luau.
CC- What do you hope to accomplish as a member of the CCC-SAAC?
KM- I hope that I can help the students at my school gets their voices heard as well as help the CCC-SAAC set a high standard for the years to come. Our conference is pretty awesome and I just want to help make a good impression about what we do in the CCC.
CC- What do you see yourself doing after graduation?
KM- I am working towards getting into a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program and I hope to someday be a nurse.