Cheyenne Baird, a student-athlete at The Evergreen State College, played a significant role in a presentation given by the Cascade Collegiate Conference at the recently concluded National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) convention in San Diego, Calif.

Baird teamed up with Cascade Conference commissioner Rob Cashell and fellow conference student-athlete Emily Hawgood from College of Idaho, along with five other individuals, on a presentation titled "Practical Application of CSA/ASA/SAAC." The Cascade Conference trio focused on the "SAAC" – Student Athlete Advisory Committee – part of the title.

The presentation was given during a breakout session at the annual NAIA convention, which primarily draws top athletics administrators from the organization's 250-plus college and universities representing some 65,000 student-athletes.

 "We basically presented on what SAAC is, how it works, and explained that (in the Cascade Conference) it is built upon commitment, communication and content," Baird stated. Each of the three individuals presented on one of the three C's with Baird wrapping up the presentation by focusing on the content piece of the conference's SAAC.

Baird, a junior from Puyallup and a member of the Evergreen volleyball team, got the opportunity to present because of her role as Cascade Conference SAAC Vice-Chair. Hawgood is the organization's chair person.

"I was so proud of how Emily and Cheyenne represented the conference at the NAIA national convention," Cashell said. "The role they each have played in the success of CCC SAAC has been immeasurable, and to have that highlighted nationally validates their efforts."