Lehigh University Athletics
Student-Athlete Mentor Update
4/16/2015 1:36:00 PM | Student Athlete
Hello everyone! My name is Katie Hatler and I am a sophomore on the Women's Track and Field team. Â This year, I have taken on the role as the new co-captain/coordinator of Lehigh University's Student-Athlete Mentors, more commonly know as SAM. I'd like to tell you a little bit about us!
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Who is SAM and what are we all about?
SAM is a group of thirty-two elite, handpicked student-athlete  "studs", as we love to call them. They embody leadership and authenticity, both on and off the field.  Being a SAM means that you not only hold yourself accountable to a higher standard, but that you wish to create a larger impact on the Lehigh athletics community. It is our job to help first-year-student-athletes positively transition from high school to Lehigh by providing them with valuable skills, knowledge, and resources through the Fall PRIDE program. We go through extensive training in order to prepare for this role.
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"Being a SAM means being an example and representation of Lehigh Athletics, so we can pass down our values to classes below us and keep a strong tradition of integrity and leadership in the athletics community" -Kerry Kinek (Women's Basketball, 2016)
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Why SAM?
SAMs help set the foundation  and culture of leadership at Lehigh.  Since we are the first to meet the next generation of Lehigh student-athletes, we hold a great deal of influence on how we wish to set the tone for the rest of their time at Lehigh.  By being an open resource for help, guidance, and information, we set a standard of how we interact within the Lehigh community.
Â"We are the first people the first-years come in contact with when they get to campus. Our actions, advice, mistakes and discussions give the first-years a look ahead to what is coming in these next four years at Lehigh" - Stephanie Slater (Women's Volleyball, 2016)
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What does being a SAM mean to me?
Being a SAM means so much more than what is seen at the surface. We not only seek to positively influence the next generation of Lehigh student-athletes, but also to learn about ourselves and further strengthen our leadership, communication, and facilitation skills. Â Our training works to expose our "core-self" in order to develop into confident and influential leaders. Â
Personally, after only one year, I have gained so much from being a SAM. I was introduced to an amazing group of talented and motivated student-athletes, who constantly challenge me to grow into a better leader everyday. Â Being a SAM is more than just being a leader. It is being a friend, a confidant, and a role model.
"Often times people have the potential to do great things. Our job is to help those people access their greatness" - Chet Bicthart (Men's Rowing, 2018)
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Where have we been? Where we are going?
This Spring we have welcomed a new team of SAMs.We are moving forward with a squad of twelve veteran SAMs and twenty rookie SAMS. Over the past couple of weeks, our rookie SAMs have completed their Peer Ed training and performed their first group facilitations. They all did great and we are extremely excited about this years group! As part of our training, we have been discussing program goals and expectations, practicing facilitation, reflecting on our own leadership and development, and getting to know each other. Â Most recently we have been doing Mindfulness Training with Counseling Services. It has been quite an eye opening (and mind opening) experience. We are learning how to practice and facilitate mindfulness mindfulness in order to help us excel our roles as students and athletes. We are excited to introduce this practice to the first-years when they get here in August! I am so excited to continue to learn new skills and work together with this group of SAMs!
As we welcome in our new SAMs, we also have to say goodbye to our graduating SAMs that are headed out into "the real world." The SAMs of the Class of 2015 demonstrated integrity, handwork, and dedication. Good luck to Nate Brown, Kelsey Yenco, JR Edwards, Madi Smith, Babette Hohrath, Darby Dustman, Kurt Kaunas, Lou Adesida, Chris Campbell, Lance Kirschenbaum, AJ Visconti, Scott Grossnickle, Jade Van Streepen, Emily Solenberger, Cassie Waggy, and Brandi Hawkins! We will miss you guys so much and wish you the best of luck in everything you do. Go do some SAM-ish things out there. Your SAM family will always here be supporting you!
That is all for now. Katie Hatler signing off!
