Ben DeSaulnier- Southern Oregon
Student Athlete Advisory Committee Profile-Ben DeSaulnier
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 Ben DeSaulnier who is one of the committee representatives from Southern Oregon and participates in basketball. Ben is also one of the representatives from the CCC on the NAIA Council for Student Athletes (CSA).
Student Athlete: Ben DeSaulnier, SOU
Men’s Basketball
Major-Psychology
Junior
Hometown- Philomath, Ore.
High School Attended-Philomath
Parent's Names- Danette Jamison and Dan DeSaulnier
Cascade Conference (CC) - How did you choose SOU to continue your athletic and academic career?
Ben DeSaulnier (BD) - My recruiting for college was very extensive. I ultimately chose SOU because of their great Psychology Department and the family dynamic they have here. The basketball coaches and players made me feel right at home when I came for my visit, which was very welcoming and intriguing for me.
CC- What are some of the demands of being a student athlete?
BD- Being able to juggle your studies and the sport you are in are highly demanding. Being able to stay on top of this is very important to our basketball team and our athletic department. Being that our athletics have had some of the highest GPA’s in the nation the past couple of years, we hold ourselves to a very high standard and want to do the best we can in the classroom as well as on the court or field.
CC- What are some of your best experiences so far, both academically and athletically at college?
BD- I have been blessed enough to have made it to the national tournament my first two years of being at SOU. These experiences have been amazing for my team and me. Academically, I have made academic all-conference the past two years, which has been a great achievement for me personally.
CC- Who are some influential people in your life at SOU?
BD- My teammates and coaches are the most influential people here at SOU for me. We all hold each other accountable in the classroom as well as on the court, which is great to have. I would also say Matt Sayre has been influential for me. He pushes me to be a great leader in all aspects of life. Just being on the SAAC committee is something that he encouraged me to be on and I might not have been if it wasn’t for him influencing me to be a part of it.
CC- When not competing or studying what do you do for fun?
BD- I like to hang out with the guys on my team whether it is just relaxing, going to SOU events, or going on hikes and doing adventurous things.
CC- What do you hope to accomplish as a member of the CCC-SAAC?
BD- I hope to be voice of the student-athletes of the CCC and ultimately make the changes that are most important to them and our conference.
CC- What do you see yourself doing after graduation?
BD- I would like to continue playing basketball as long as I can. When that time comes to an end I would like to go into firefighting/paramedics.