University of Richmond Athletics
Bonifas Participates in NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum
04/13/2015 | General, Academic Services
Danny Bonifas, UR's Compliance Coordinator and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor, attended the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Orlando this past weekend. From the Atlantic 10, he was joined by Morghan Martin, a junior volleyball player at George Mason and Tyler David, a junior men's soccer player at Saint Louis.
"It was an honor representing Richmond Athletics and the Atlantic 10 at the NCAA Leadership Forum this past weekend," said Bonifas, who has been the compliance coordinator and SAAC advisor at Richmond since the spring of 2012. "It truly was a great experience and I really enjoyed taking part in all of the group activities, guest speakers, and discussions on various leadership topics throughout the event."
Both Martin and David were nominated for the forum by the A-10 under new NCAA criteria that allows for conferences to submit up to two member student-athletes as well as one administrator. In 2013-14 under the previous regional and rotational format, all eight of the eligible A-10 institutions sent a representative to the Leadership Forum.
Martin, an outside hitter from Rockledge, Fla., has been a two-year starter for the Patriots. She led Mason in kills and service aces and was second in digs. She is a member of the George Mason campus student-athlete advisory committee and joined the A-10 SAAC this past year, immediately embracing a leadership role.
David has started all 42 matches during his time at Saint Louis as both a defender and midfielder. A two-time All Conference Second Team selection, he has helped anchor the Billiken defense, which has ranked among the best in the A-10 during his tenure.
Also attending the Forum was Devon Tabata, a women's soccer student-athlete at Duquesne and currently the co-vice chair and A-10 representative of the NCAA Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Tabata gave a presentation educating and facilitating discussion amongst Forum participants in the role of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Designed to cultivate leadership skills in student-athletes, the Forum helps explore the relationship between personal values, core beliefs and behavioral styles, as well as build a thorough understanding of the NCAA as a whole, the different divisional perspectives and the valuable role of SAAC.
"I was able to gain invaluable skills and develop a solid foundation to build upon when it comes to leadership," said Bonifas. "My goal following this experience is to take what I've learned and help to make a difference in the lives of others in my personal life as well as in my role here at Richmond."
Created in 1997, the Leadership Forum has been a life-changing experience for nearly 5,000 student-athletes, many who have grown personally and professionally, gained a new network of peers and friends, as well as felt the rewards and importance of community service.
Prior to his arrival at Richmond, Bonifas was a compliance assistant at his alma mater, Coastal Carolina. A football student-athlete who was a standout long snapper for the Chanticleers, he also served as president of the CCU SAAC.
