May 28, 2004
LAS VEGAS - UNLV starting linebacker Reggie Butler left Friday to participate in the annual NCAA Leadership Conference in Orlando.
The former transfer from the University of Pennsylvania will be a senior in the fall and is one of 321 NCAA student-athletes who were tabbed as current or future leaders on their college campuses. However, he is only the second UNLV representative to make the prestigious trip, following former Rebel offensive lineman Tony Terrell.
Butler started all 12 games last season and totaled 42 tackles, three sacks and one interception. A member of the 2003 All-Mountain West Conference Academic Team, the psychology major is deeply involved in campus activities, including serving as the co-chair of the annual African-American Graduation Celebration.
The leadership group will meet through June 3 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex to discuss key issues in intercollegiate athletics and to enhance leadership skills.
The student-athlete leaders were selected from a total of 1,201 nomination forms that were submitted by college and university officials who have NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills programs at their schools. They represent Divisions I, II and III, and fall, winter and spring sports.
During the conference, student-athletes will discuss a variety of topics that are relative to their life as student-athletes on campus and beyond. They will also discuss issues that are division-specific and consider possible solutions to the issues. A total of 52 coaches, athletics administrators and program facilitators will join the student-athletes at the conference. In addition, members representing the national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) also will participate in the discussion sessions and group activities. SAAC provides feedback to NCAA committees and councils regarding student well-being issues and is considered the "voice" of the student-athlete within the NCAA governance structure.
Following the leadership conference, the student-athletes will be asked to share their experiences and topic discussions with their campus SAAC, as well as other campus leaders. The participants are also asked to develop a self-directed project that will address an issue on their campus or in their community and implement the project once they return to their schools.
Selection criteria for the conference include the student-athletes' demonstrated ability and strong desire to be a leader and the student-athletes' potential to benefit significantly from a leadership development experience. In order to be eligible for the conference, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing, and must have athletics eligibility remaining in the following academic year. A committee comprised of CHAMPS/Life Skills coordinators from member institutions and former NCAA student-athletes review the nominations to determine the final selections. The committee also works to ensure that the conference includes a diverse group of student-athletes, coaches and administrators.
