For the 2024-2025 school year, Sacred Heart Greenwich inaugurated a Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Similar to the Executive Student Council, students elect student-athletes to represent the Upper School. The selected individuals then work as a team to enhance the school’s athletic experience, protect student welfare, and cultivate school spirit. They serve as a liaison between student-athletes and the Athletic Department to ensure that athletes receive the support they need.
This year, senior Maddy Hartnett serves as president and senior Tiffany Abrahams serves as vice president. Freshman Kinley Dickerson is the Class of 2028 representative, sophomore Emma Matthews is the Class of 2027 representative, sophomore Olivia Franco is the sportscasting representative, and juniors Scarlett Pfistner and Arianna Chin are the secretaries. The SAAC focuses on two objectives: amplifying the student-athlete voice and creating a vision for representation on and off campus. To achieve these goals, the SAAC has established two committees: the Campus Outreach Committee and the Community Service Committee.
The Campus Outreach Committee collaborates with Assistant Athletic Director Ms. Lilly O’Sullivan to promote athletics via social media and to create promotional content for game days and playoffs. The committee will also coordinate activities to unify athletic teams through pizza truck nights, spring scavenger hunts, and Green and White team events. The Community Service Committee, working with Miss Karen Panarella, Assistant Head of Upper School for Student Life, will seek out service opportunities for student-athletes as a way to foster team bonding.
As president, Maddy plays for the varsity soccer team in the fall and the varsity lacrosse team in the spring. She serves as a captain for both teams this year. Maddy shared how the leadership of the former soccer and lacrosse captains inspired her to run for president of SAAC.
“They’ve had such a positive impact on my journey, and my goal is to make even a fraction of that difference in the lives of others,” Maddy said. “I want to create an inclusive and energetic environment that brings the entire campus community together to support our student-athletes. I also want to boost engagement and attendance at games, making each event something people look forward to. Ultimately, I want to ensure that athletes and fans feel valued and excited to join our athletic community.”
Over Tiffany Abraham’s 12 years at Sacred Heart, she has played on the soccer, rowing, volleyball, and track teams. During her senior year, she is an active member of the varsity rowing team in the fall and the varsity track and field team during the spring. This academic year, she will serve as captain for both teams. Tiffany touched on the importance of SAAC, and what she will bring to the community as vice president.
“I think as someone who has been selected for this position and is a student-athlete herself, each athlete’s voice must be heard equally as their suggestions can only benefit the Sacred Heart [athletics],” Tiffany said. “As vice president, I hope throughout the year, I will be capable of fulfilling my goal of reiterating the student voice through student-based feedback whether it is in person or through forms. Additionally, SAAC as a whole, [is] a safe space for all athletes to talk both individually and as a whole in creating student-led athletic programs, rallies, and activities.”
The Sacred Heart Athletic Director, Mrs. Laurie Rousseau was instrumental in the development of SAAC. She is passionate about supporting student-athletes and ensuring they have a positive experience. Mrs. Rousseau stated the mission of SAAC and her reasons for integrating it into Sacred Heart’s athletic program.
“In developing the SAAC committee,” Mrs. Rousseau said. “It is our goal to enhance the student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare, acting as a liaison between student-athletes and administrators, and fostering a positive student-athlete experience.”
Featured Image by Maggie Heffernan ’25
