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Aurora UniversityPursuit of Excellence
Striving for success in athletics, academics and life. December 2005 | Volume 1, Issue 1
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Disordered Eating in College Students Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD January 12, noon, UBH |
Performance Nutrition Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD January 12, 7:30 p.m., UBH |
Partnership Day January 21, activities in conjunction with women's and men's basketball games vs. Concordia University-River Forest (1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. game times) |
Spartan Reading Club Recognition Night February 4, between the women's and men's basketball games vs. Rockford College (7:00 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. game times) |
Finding Common Ground and Embracing Differences Elaine Penn February 9, 7:30 p.m., UBH |
Pack the Place February 18, 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., women's and men's basketball games vs. Benedictine University |
Welcome to the first edition of “Pursuit of Excellence,” a newsletter designed to keep you informed about what AU’s athletic department is doing for its student-athletes “off the field.”
In keeping with Aurora University’s core values, the Athletic Department views itself as a vital component in developing our student-athletes in the areas of integrity, citizenship, continuous learning and excellence. As an NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills institution, we affirm our commitment to excellence in athletics, academics, career development, personal development and service.
We encourage our student-athletes to live with integrity and help the
immediate and extended community. In short, our student-athletes are “change
agents” from the moment they step foot on our campus, even outside
the classroom.
For the 2004-2005 academic year, Aurora University was awarded a $10,000 NCAA Division III Initiative Grant for Student-Athlete Welfare. The program was developed through a collaborative effort between the Athletic Department and the Office of Residence Life.
The Steppin’ It Up and Bringing It Down program focused on the negative consequences of alcohol use and encouraged students to develop their leadership skills. As a major component of the campaign, AU surveyed students on their perceptions related to alcohol use. Then using this data, we created a marketing strategy to correct misperceptions and encourage positive behaviors.
In another area of the grant, a Step Up! leadership academy was created to provide a formal structure for leadership development at AU. All students were invited to participate, and the inaugural group holds members of the executive board of AUSA; presidents of the Black Student Organization, the Latin American Student Organization and Circle K (Kiwanis); as well as members of our athletic teams. Students worked with academy facilitators Stevie Baker-Watson and Michelle Thalacker to become “change agents” by developing a final project that addressed a social concern on the main campus.
For more information on the NCAA Division III Initiative Grant, contact
Stevie Baker-Watson, Head Athletic Trainer, at 630-844-5114.
“Bigger, faster, stronger,” the mantra made popular by sport-enhancement programs, made its debut at Aurora University this fall.
 Strength and power can fuel athletic success. |
The program was developed by Stevie Baker-Watson, Head Athletic Trainer; James Kluckhohn, Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track Coach; and Terry Smith, Assistant Athletic Trainer in conjunction with ATI Physical Therapy and Sports Performance.
It provides Spartan student-athletes with formal instruction of weightlifting safety, multiple movement exercises and nutrition. Its purpose is to continue to provide a safe environment for student-athletes while exposing them to current trends in sport enhancement for performance and injury prevention.
With the popularity of nutritional supplements, student-athletes also received sound guidance that complies with NCAA rules.
Customized plans were created to meet the needs of each specific athletic team. Student-athletes attended a one-hour introductory session and received safety instruction, as well as guidance on new exercises and nutrition. Mike Burch, C.S.C.S., of ATI Physical Therapy and Sports Performance, conducted general sessions on speed and agility.
Kluckhohn or Smith then met with each team to evaluate each student-athlete in several “core lifts.” At this time, another instruction session took place or the student-athletes asked questions.
For more information, contact James Kluckhohn at 630-844-4573.
This fall, Michelle Roof, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, and Elaine Canchola, Assistant Coach of Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field, launched the Academic Game Plan program to assist student-athletes with academics.
 Success on the field and in the classroom is based on the principles of discipline, trust and goal setting. |
The Academic Game Plan provides support to student-athletes by instructing them in time management and organizational skills, as well as by enhancing their study and communication skills. Student-athletes learn to be efficient and successful by building relationships with their professors and using on-campus resources.
Through this program, student-athletes compile a weekly self reflection that is completed from daily and weekly calendars, daily tasks lists and an academic assignment progress sheet. After completing these items, student- athletes have a one-on-one meeting with Coach Roof to discuss their progress and to plan for their future academic course work and academic goals.
Coach Canchola works with student-athletes on a broader level, offering programming on time management, test taking and career management. Programs are facilitated by campus and community experts and offered to the entire Aurora University campus.
The program aims to pass on the necessary tools needed to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
For more information on the Academic Game Plan, contact Michelle Roof
at 630-844-5112 or Elaine Canchola at 630-844-3695.
Thanks to an NCAA Division III Initiative Grant for Diversity, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee brought Cameron Tummel, a drum circle facilitator from Santa Barbara, CA, to AU for a lunch hour filled with music. Tummel brought approximately 250 drums, shakers, blocks and bells to share with the AU community and form a “drum circle.”
 Cameron Tummel helps Aurora University find rhythm and community. |
In this circle, a group of AU students, faculty and staff “jammed” together forming unique percussion “songs.”
“As we play together,” Tummel said, “we discover that the key to our musical success is not dependent upon our musical skills or experience; the key is actually the relationships between the players and the synergy of the music we make together.”
Participants in the drum circle demonstrated that cooperation in a community provides a creative new look at the importance of diversity.
Gaining local press from the “Daily Herald” and the “Chicago Tribune,” those outside the Aurora University community saw the value in participating. Local resident Steve Aldrich arrived with his own drums. “Drumming is not a spectator sport. It’s best when you join in — just like life.”
Tummel’s performance was part of a larger initiative to increase diversity and a sense of community on AU’s campus.
As Fisher Roth from the “Chicago Tribune” noted, it worked. “Participants were of all ages, colors, sizes and musical abilities.”
For more information, contact Stevie Baker-Watson, Head Athletic Trainer, at 630-844-5114.
For more information on Cameron Tummel or Rhythms of the C, visit www.rhythmsofthec.com.
AU’s student-athletes have always given 110% on the field — and their effort in the community is just as strong. While individual athletic teams perform regular community service, the Athletic Department has a few that bridge all athletic teams and the entire AU campus.
 Members of the AU men’s soccer team helped a neighbor rake and bag leaves last fall. |
During AU’s Help Your Neighbor Day last fall, members of athletic teams joined with student organizations to help campus neighbors with routine yard work.
More than 100 student-athletes interacted with neighbors on a positive level and made new connections.
Now in its fourth year, the Spartan Reading Club continues to be strong, involving more than 50 classes of elementary-aged children in the local Aurora school districts. Participants receive complimentary family admission to basketball games, a T-shirt and half-time recognition after reading 25 books.
In addition, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has made great strides in distributing free child ID kits and making blankets for Project Linus.
For information on the Spartan Reading Club, contact Shaun Neitzel,
Head Baseball Coach, at 630-844-6515.
The Spartan Club, AU’s Athletic Booster Club, wants you … to be a member!
 Support student-athletes by joining the Spartan Club. |
The Spartan Club was established in 1989 to connect parents and families of student-athletes to the Athletic Department as a whole.
Memberships begin at $50 – with $30 being allocated to the general Spartan Club fund, and the remainder of your donation directly benefiting the program of your choice. Why not choose to donate more? It’s all for a great cause!
Throughout the years, the Spartan Club has done a phenomenal job of supporting AU’s student-athletes. From sponsoring major speakers on the topics of alcohol abuse and leadership, to upgrading equipment in the weight room, the Spartan Club wants to see student-athletes excel on and off the field.
For a Spartan Club membership application, contact Spartan Club Liaison Pete Watkins at 630-844-5268.
Thornton Gymnasium and Alumni Hall became a reality more than 30 years ago, thanks to a leadership gift from the late Jack and Alice Thornton. While the facility has served the university well for the past 30 years, a renovation is necessary to enable AU to continue to meet the needs of its students and the community — for today and the future. The renovation will be completed in two phases at a total cost of $500,000.
For additional information or to make a gift, contact the Office of Advancement at 866-GIVE-4-AU, 630-844-3778 or makeagift@aurora.edu. Your contributions really do make a daily difference.
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Elaine Canchola enters her first season as a member of the Aurora University Cross Country and Track and Field coaching staff, and her first season as a collegiate coach.
Canchola had successful running careers at University of Wisconsin-Madison and UCLA; she transferred from UCLA to UW-Madison in 2001. Canchola graduated from UW-Madison in 2003 and was team captain at both UCLA and UW-Madison. In her first track season with the UW-Madison Badgers in 2001, she placed second in the mile at the Indoor Big 10 Championships and earned Second Team All-Big 10 Conference honors.
At AU, Canchola also serves as the CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator and Assistant Advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Department of Athletics
Aurora University
347 S. Gladstone Ave.
Aurora, IL 60506-4892
Phone: 630-844-5114 |
Fax: 630-844-7809 |
E-mail: swatson@aurora.edu |
Striving for success in athletics, academics and life.
