The Life Skills Program strives to offer a variety of programs and support focusing on the emotional and physical well-being of individuals, as well as personal growth in many areas. In addition to the Student-Athlete Mentor program and the PED 295 Life Skills class, several other activities, classes and programs are offered.

PED 295, Life Skills Course for First-Year Student-Athletes (FirstChoice Program): PED 295 is a three-credit, undergraduate course offered to first-year student-athletes. The course addresses current topics that first-year students typically confront such as time management, drugs, alcohol, safe sex, nutrition and other issues. The course also includes appearances by guest speakers who address a number of these issues.

Student-Athlete Orientation for New Students: At the beginning of the fall semester, an Orientation program is offered to new student-athletes. The program introduces new student-athletes to the Student-Athlete Mentor (SAM) program, athletic department staff, and campus student services. | Photo Gallery

Student-Athlete Mentor Program:The SAM program is a year commitment. SAMs receive two credits per semester. The primary purpose of this program is for SAMs to act as resources and referral agents to their teammates and to the first-year student-athletes in particular. The program also allows SAMs to participate in national conferences and community service programs like Kids' Day Out/Kids' Night Out and to help with events and activities for student-athletes.

Student-Athlete Advisory Council: This group cultivates leadership potential and personal skills while providing student-athletes with a voice on campus and NCAA matters. For much more information, visit the SAAC home page.

Guest Speakers Programs: Throughout the year, the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program seeks to bring in a variety of well-known and inspirational speakers to address student-athletes on important issues and current topics.

For more information, contact Ryoko Sekiguchi, academic/life skills coordinator, at sekiguch@oswego.edu.

In October, Oswego's CHAMPS/Life Skills program sponsored motivational speaker Dan Clark. A crowd of over 350 listened with rapt attention, and many said it was the best presentation they had ever seen. Clark (center) is shown with Heather Merino, a senior on the women's basketball team, and Zach Owen, a senior baseball player, who worked diligently to bring him to campus and promote the program to the student-athletes.

At the athletic department's 2008 Welcome Barbecue, student-athletes had an opportunity to make new friends, reconnect with pals and partake in friendly competition.