Women's Ice Hockey Jordan Modjeski, Gustavus Adolphus College Sports Information Department

Kylie Scott and SAAC: A Perfect Match

SAINT PETER, Minn. – The goal of the Gustavus Adolphus College Student Athlete Advisory Committee, or SAAC, is to enhance the overall student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare, and supporting and fostering a positive student-athlete image. But women's hockey player Kylie Scott's (So., Dayton, Minn.) work with the committee has reached far more than her local Gustavus community.

Scott, who serves on the SAAC leadership team as a sophomore, helped sponsor an event for Gift of Life Marrow Registry, a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating blood stem cell and bone marrow matches for potential transplants. Her donor drive, hosted in October of 2024, identified a lifesaving match for a 33-year-old man battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

"I loved the concept of the event," said Scott, a biology pre-med major. "It was an easy 10 minutes to swab and fill out some paperwork, but I knew it could make a huge impact on somebody else's life."

The event was brought to the attention of Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator Rachelle Sherden through the department's partnership with Chi Alpha Sigma, a nonprofit organization established to recognize college student-athletes who excel in their sport, the classroom, and the community. 

In her first year in her new role as Assistant AD and SWA, Sherden is also charged with serving as the advisor for both SAAC and Chi Alpha Sigma, alongside assistant cross country and track and field coach Hailey Hill. While Chi Alpha Sigma brought the event to the attention of Sherden and the Gustavus SAAC representatives, Sherden wasn't surprised that her team of over 40 student-athletes, which includes at least one representative from every program, jumped at the idea.

"SAAC, and especially our SAAC leadership group, has really taken ownership this year in elevating the student-athlete experience and giving back to the campus and greater community," said Sherden of the passionate group of student-athletes.  

The College's partnership with Chi Alpha Sigma has certainly facilitated this, with 167 student-athletes receiving induction into the society this spring. The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced a partnership with the National College Athlete Honor Society for all 13 conference institutions in August of 2024.

"It's been amazing to see the growth in Chi Alpha Sigma over the last few years," commented MIAC Associate Commissioner BJ Pickard, who also serves as the Chi Alpha Sigma Assistant Director. "Being associated with this organization is really a privilege to me because of the caliber of people it brings together. We get to celebrate individuals who aren't just exceptional collegiate competitors, but they're also dedicated students who are actively becoming positive leaders in their local and campus communities as well."

Scott served as the event coordinator, working directly with Gift of Life staff to ensure the event was a success. She and football captain Braden Black '24 helped organize tabling and logistics and executed the drive, which took place over the course of three days. Scott's additional responsibilities included training workers, facilitating volunteer sign-up, and shipping the swab kits to the registry. The athletes' competitive nature fueled the drive's success, as Scott and Black petitioned teams to compete in recruiting the most volunteers. Their challenge resulted in over 100 individuals taking part in the three-day process.

Regardless of the result, Scott felt that the event helped her develop new skills in her field of interest and provided an educational experience that changed lives far beyond her own.

"It was such an amazing feeling," she said about learning of the life-saving match. "It was a group effort – without the help of everybody on campus, the staff at Gift of Life, 'Ro' [Sherden], and Hailey [Hill], this event wouldn't have been possible. It was incredible that our group effort helped save somebody's life."

And, for the Champlin Park graduate, the passion for helping others will not end upon graduation, as she hopes to attend medical school with the intention of becoming a doctor. She is additionally minoring in both chemistry and public health. 

"I think the rigor of academics paired with leadership, problem-solving skills, and teamwork I've learned through athletics and at Gustavus is going to set me up for success in this field."

Even as a sophomore, Scott's passion for SAAC and the Gustavus student-athlete community hasn't gone unnoticed, as she was selected as a nominee for the NCAA Division III national committee.

"I love supporting other sports on campus, and SAAC has helped me connect with other teams and build relationships with athletes I may not have interacted with otherwise. Overall, I want to be a voice for other student-athletes and advocate for things that would enhance their opportunities and experiences."

On the ice, Scott helped lead the Gusties to their 18th national tournament appearance, finishing with an overall record of 21-7-0 and 15-3-0 in the conference, good for a second-place finish in the MIAC. She totaled three goals and 13 assists for 16 points playing both defense and forward throughout the season. She was a MIAC All-Playoff selection the season before, was honored as the team's most outstanding freshman in 2023-24, and was one of four finalists for last year's Gustavus Athletics Newcomer of the Year. 

The news of Scott's life-saving match came just ahead of NCAA Division III Week (April 6-12), which celebrates the impact athletics and student-athletes have on Division III campuses and their surrounding communities. As a part of the DIII Week initiative, Scott and SAAC are hosting an upcoming Special Olympics basketball tournament to contribute to the Special Olympics mission – to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. The tournament will take place Saturday, April 12, at 9 a.m., featuring both skill sessions and team scrimmages. 

About Chi Alpha Sigma
The National College Athlete Honor Society, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in 1996. Theta Chi Alpha and Chi Alpha Sigma work with state chapters of two- and four-year institutions to recognize college student-athletes who excel in their sport, the classroom, and the community.

About Gift of Life Marrow Registry
Gift of Life Marrow Registry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla. Established in 1991, the organization is dedicated to saving lives by facilitating blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood-related diseases. The registry houses its state-of-the-art stem cell collection center, biobank, and laboratory. To learn more about the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, visit www.giftoflife.org.

About NCAA DIII SAAC
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) represents the Division III student-athlete voice in the Division III governance structure by reviewing legislation; identifying significant student-athlete issues; implementing national student-athlete based initiatives; encouraging community outreach; and enhancing Division III student-athlete involvement in and understanding of Division III in general. The SAAC is also the committee that is primarily responsible for maintaining and coordinating the division's nationwide partnership with Special Olympics. The committee meets in-person three times each year in January, July and November and has a teleconference in April.