Dusty Page
Dusty Page of the Northern Illinois men’s soccer team has been selected to serve on the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
“I am really pleased for Dusty,” said NIU men’s soccer head coach Eric Luzzi.
“It is quite an honor for him to be selected by the NCAA to be on their national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Dusty is the model student-athlete and will bring a great perspective to the committee,” Luzzi added. “Dusty has been a strong leader within our team and our athletic department at NIU, and I have no doubt that he will represent NIU and the Mid-American Conference very well as he serves as a representative for all student-athletes within the NCAA.”
Page was one of three student-athletes nominated for the position by the Mid-American Conference and was selected by the NCAA as the new representative from the MAC. Each of the 31 conferences in NCAA Division I have one representative, Page’s term will begin on July 1, 2013 and continue through July 1, 2015.
Similar to the SAAC on each campus, the NCAA Division I SAAC’s mission is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete well being and fostering a positive student-athlete image. NCAA Division I SAAC members are responsible for keeping their campus and conference committees educated about relevant issues effecting Division I athletics and student-athletes.
“I had a meeting with Coach (Eric) Luzzi last fall, and he asked by what I wanted to get out of life. My answer was that I wanted to make an impact and positive change, and the NCAA is one organization that I can make an impact through” Page said. “My goals are to make the environment for student-athletes as good as possible. I think sharing the opinions of student-athletes in the Mid-American Conference is important because it is a different experience than you might have in the Big Ten, or other conferences, so I would like to share those opinions and create a great environment for student-athletes in the MAC.”
A native of Germantown, Wis., Page will be a junior on the NIU men’s soccer team this fall. He appeared in 11 matches during the 2012 season and has helped the Huskies reach the MAC Tournament Final in each of the past two seasons.
The NCAA Division I SAAC typically has three in-person meetings per year; Page will participate in his first SAAC meeting from July 18 to July 21 in Indianapolis.
For more information on NIU men’s soccer and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
