May 29, 2007

Olivia Arnold Selected to Attend National Leadership Conference

    Youngstown -- Youngstown State junior swimmer Olivia Arnold has been chosen as one of 355 student-athletes across the country to attend the NCAA National Leadership Conference this week in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
    The conference is a forum that allows student-athletes to discuss issues in athletics and enhance their leadership and decision-making skills. Discussion topics will include sportsmanship, substance abuse, social networking sites, hazing, recruiting climate, professional development and integrating student-athletes into campus.
    In addition to the speaker and discussion sessions, the student-athletes will participate in a team building games at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.
    Coaches, athletics administrators, program facilitators and 20 members representing each NCAA division's national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will also be in attendance to help lead discussions and group activities.
    Arnold and others in attendance will be asked to share their experiences with their campus SAAC, sports teams and campus leaders.
    Arnold was chosen out of 1,316 nominations submitted by college and university officials who have NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills programs on their campus. A native of Rutherglen, Australia, Arnold is one of 33 international student-athletes that were selected.
    Arnold is the school record holder in the 1,000 free and ranks second in the 500 and 1,650. As a freshman she was named team MVP and was honored as the Horizon League Swimmer of the Week twice.
    YSU football player Leon Edwards attended last year's conference.