Oct. 13, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - In September, UCF student-athletes took part in the political process as the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee led a voter registration drive. As a result of the initiative, 62 student-athletes registered for the first time and are now eligible to vote on Nov. 4.
As part of the drive, SAAC members were responsible for getting their teammates registered to vote on the Rock the Vote web site.
Members of the SAAC executive board, including co-presidents Jenny Heppert (volleyball) and Samantha Sarff (rowing), managed the drive. Committee members serve as liaisons between student-athletes and the athletics association and work on community service initiatives.
An estimated 80 percent of all UCF student-athletes are now registered to vote. The voter registration drive was endorsed by UCF director of athletics Keith R. Tribble and senior associate athletics director for student services Jessica Reo. The initiative was also supported by UCF's CHAMPS/Life Skills Program.
"I thought that [the drive] really came down from Mr. Tribble," Heppert said. "He wants all the student-athletes on this campus to be informed citizens and that is one of the goals of this institution and the athletics program. It is not only to win championships and graduate athletes, but send them off into society as responsible working members.
"Whether anyone votes or not is up to them, but the fact that everyone is registered is important. We really pushed to make sure that they had it in on time. That is the hardest part for most student athletes because we are so busy." The voter registration drive concluded on Oct. 4.
Established in 1992, Rock the Vote's mission is to engage and build the political power of young people. For information about Rock the Vote, visit rockthevote.org.
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