GRAND FORKS, N.D. - With the brand new school year less than a week old, the University of North Dakota's Student-Athlete Inclusion & Diversity (SAID) committee held its first meeting of 2020-21 on Aug. 30 to introduce its new ambassadors.

The group, composed of 16 student-athletes among various classes from first-year students to seniors, encompasses all of UND's athletic programs from various backgrounds and geographic locales around the world. Entering the second year of the group, SAID Ambassadors will attend monthly meetings, design programming opportunities for fellow student-athletes and the campus community, advocate for social justice, assess current team dynamics and climate, and create a dialogue between student-athletes and the athletic department.

The over-arching themes from the student-athletes during their introductions were empathy, educating themselves, being a voice for minority groups, and learning how to take action instead of just using words. Members are encouraged to voice concerns to inform the department and provide an inclusive and welcoming environment.

SAID is advised by Director of Student-Athlete Development Tyler Burmeister, who brings talking points and focuses the group's message to make a more significant impact, while Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Matt Scheerer helps give a voice to the group.
 
About The Group's Formation:
SAID planted its roots and raised its foundation within the department after its first meeting last October where the group brainstormed a vision and developed focus areas surrounding education, outreach, engagement, and supporting fellow student-athletes. Part of that discussion paved the way for a diversity and inclusion unit in the University 101 curriculum. SAID advisors and students also began meeting with various campus and student organizations to seek collaboration for support and advocacy.

The group introduced itself as an organization by lending its voice during the NCAA Diversity & Inclusion Social Media Campaign with prompts on embracing individual identities, broadening horizons, joining together as one, and taking action. The campaign provided a platform for student-athletes to share their story as well as increasing awareness while providing allyship for the LGBTQ community.

SAID's first program in 2019 was its Thanksgiving Dinner, hosting the meal for student-athletes who were unable to leave Grand Forks during the holiday, primarily international student-athletes. After that successful first project, the group partnered with UND's Black Student Association to host an event in honor of Black History Month as well.

The group also played an instrumental role in the creation of a scholarship for a student-athlete to attend The Black Student-Athlete Summit at the University of Texas. After receiving a scholarship to attend, football's Cam McKinney went to Austin to represent the Fighting Hawks at the fifth annual meeting Jan. 9-11. McKinney discussed mental health challenges, stereotypes perpetuated by the media, and the lack of diversity in high-level administrative positions with peers, professional athletes, athletic directors, professors, and health professionals.

In year two, SAID will look to reach new heights and recapture its momentum built from last February to educate others and make a lasting change while creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for student-athletes with team members' help and the campus community.

2020-21 SAID AMBASSADORS
Petro Alex (Men's Tennis) | So. | Arden Hills, Minn. / Mounds View HS
De'Sean Allen-Eikens (Men's Basketball) | So. | Williston, N.D. / Aspire Academy
Jacob Bernard-Docker (Hockey) | Jr. | Canmore, Alberta 
Katie Bierstedt (Softball) | Sr. | St. Michael, Minn. / Albertville HS
Carrie Carpenter (Women's Golf) | Fr. | Billings, Mont. / Billings West HS
Ethan Igbanugo (Men's Basketball) | Jr. | Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North HS
Taylor Lange (Women's Soccer) | Jr. | Waconia, Minn. / Waconia HS
Melissa Leet (Women's Basketball) | Sr. | Palmer, Alaska / Portage HS (Wis.)
Elizabeth Norris (Volleyball) | Fr. | Corunna, Mich. / Corunna HS
Allie Ochotorena (Women's Tennis) | Jr. | Albuquerque, N.M. / New Mexico Connections Academy
Jacob Odom (Football) | So. | Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton-Warrenville HS
Ellyssa Peterson (Women's XC/Track & Field) | Jr. | Nashwauk, Minn. / Greenway HS
Noah Schiller (Men's XC/Track & Field) | Fr. | Evansville, Wis. / Evansville HS
Lucy Steinmeyer    (Women's Track & Field) | Sr. | Luebeck, Germany 
Jack Vetsch (Men's Track & Field) | So. | Waseca, Minn. / Waseca HS
Jackson Ward (Men's Golf) | Jr. | Bismarck, N.D. / Century HS