For today, I’ll be putting my personal feelings toward the NCAA and its president, Mark Emmert, on the back burner because they have bestowed a great honor upon a tremendously worthy individual. Kauai High School graduate and University of Hawaii
For today, I’ll be putting my personal feelings toward the NCAA and its president, Mark Emmert, on the back burner because they have bestowed a great honor upon a tremendously worthy individual.
Kauai High School graduate and University of Hawaii softball player Jori Jasper earned one of 31 seats on the NCAA’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and will be the Big West Conference representative for the next two years.
Jasper has served on the UH SAAC for the past four years and has been both the school’s and conference’s chairperson, making her a prime candidate for the national position. She explained that the SAAC is a necessary, functioning body that helps student-athletes deal with institutional concerns and potential conflicts.
“SAAC creates and enables student-athletes to have a voice and a conduit of communication with the UH athletic department,” Jasper said. “When an athlete arrives at any university athletic institution, there are rules and operational mechanisms in place. Many times, these rules are outdated and may not be in the best interest of student-athletes. SAAC can cut through the entrenched operations of an athletic department and suggest changes or adjustments that would better accommodate the student-athlete during their university experience.”
The group meets with the athletic director and assistants to discuss these concerns, whether they be about facilities, coaches or various other issues that can arise within an athletic department.
With her older brother, Jett, a former UH football player, having been the SAAC Chairperson for four years, Jori knew what the organization could be as a working body for young athletes. But not only is the SAAC looking out for its own, it works alongside Ahahui Koa Anuenue — coordinators of all UH athletic fundraising — to get involved with the community and give back whenever possible.
“We have play days once a week at Hokulani Elementary School, where athletes volunteer to lead a class of kids in various outdoor activities,” Jori said. “We volunteer in monthly ‘Read to Me’ programs, where athletes go to schools and read to the kids. SAAC also participates in the annual Special Olympics event that is held on the University of Hawaii campus during the summer.”
This year, the UH SAAC won the Big West Coin Drive, raising $11,523 for the Hawaii Pacific Chapter of the American Cancer Society, receiving a bonus of 25 percent of the rest of the Big West school donations for its victory.
“It was our first year in the competition and we surpassed our initial goal of $5,000!” Jori said.
While all her board work for the SAAC and time on the UH Rainbow Wahine would be impressive feats on their own, Jori has already completed a triple-major in entrepreneurship, marketing and international business at the Shidler College of Business and is working toward her master’s degree in sociology.
“I believe that succeeding in academics is a way to show my appreciation to the UH athletics program for giving me the opportunity to represent this great university,” she said. “Focusing on academics and participating in a Division I sport is basically a full-time commitment, but I enjoy every moment of it. I absolutely love education and truly believe that knowledge is power, so it is my hope and aspiration to be accepted into UH Law School at the end of my softball career.”
Entering UH, Jori set the goal of her triple-major and a master’s all by the time her five years of softball eligibility expired. To that end, she has attended summer school every year and is at Manoa this summer taking classes, along with an internship at First Hawaiian Bank.
With that fifth year of eligibility approaching, Jori will be joined on the Wahine roster by Waimea High School grad Gaylan “Ulu” Matagiese, whom she is excited to welcome to the team.
“Over the last couple of years, we have gotten to know each other during holiday breaks on Kauai when Ulu, Jessica Iwata and I take batting practice,” Jori said. “The UH softball team has had many great Kauai girls on their teams in the past years, starting with my current Association Head Coach Dierdre Wisneski, and I’m excited to see that this tradition is staying alive!”
• ‘My Thoughts Exactly’ appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays in The Garden Island. Email David Simon your comments or questions to dsimon@thegardenisland.com. Follow David on Twitter @SimonTGI
