The NCAA will host more than 700 student-athletes in a forum to discuss topics that affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while also providing them with an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, at the 2008 National Student-Athlete Development Conference, May 25-29, at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

Formerly called the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Conference, the new Development Conference has doubled the number of student-athletes who attend from 350 to more than 700. 

The switch to a Development Conference is linked to the NCAA core purpose that the educational experience of student-athletes is paramount.  The conference is structured to enhance the skill set and knowledge base of student-athletes, and this year’s curriculum will give the student-athletes more of a voice during the event. 

The conference will be conducted in two sessions, the first May 25-27, and the second May 27-29.  Student-athletes from the America-Israel Friendship League will also participate in the activities at this year’s conference. Over the past 12 years, the conference has hosted more than 3,500 student-athletes and trained more than 300 athletic facilitators.

Robert Vowels, vice-president of education services at the NCAA, said the conference helps student-athletes find their voice to shape their future and make a commitment to lead on campus and in the community. It also strengthen the voice of the conference and national Student Athlete Advisory Committees and provides a process to develop a network with other student-athletes who are motivated to create significant, dramatic and positive change, he said. 

“With the new focus of the Development Conference, we’ll also place more emphasis on enhancing the leadership skills of the student-athletes, which not only helps them in their academic and athletic setting, but also better prepares them for life experiences after they graduate,” said Vowels.

Student-athletes will discuss topics such as game environment, gender equity, religion in sport, social networking, EKG testing, mental health and nutrition. They will also discuss division-specific issues, create dialogue surrounding possible solutions to division-specific issues and discuss potential career direction.  

In addition to the speaker and discussion sessions, the student-athletes will participate in the conference’s first student-athlete expo in which media, nonprofit and service organizations will discuss volunteer, career and personal-development opportunities.

Coaches, athletics administrators and program facilitators will also attend, along with members from each division’s national SAAC. 

After the conference, student-athletes will be asked to share their experiences and topic discussions with their campus SAAC, sports teams and campus leaders. They will also develop useful tools and solutions to address issues on their campus and in their community.

Participating student-athletes were selected from more than 2,000 nominations from college and university officials who represent Divisions I, II and III, and fall, winter and spring sports.