Murray State University Athletics
Thornton Named To NCAA Leadership Conference
4/20/2007 5:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Freshman Jasmyne Thorton was one of seven Ohio Valley Conference student-athletes to be selected to participate in the 2007 NCAA Leadership Conference, to take place May 27-31 at Disney's Coronade Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Thornton, a 5-10 forward with the Murray State women's basketball team and a native of LaGrange, Ga., was selected along with Bernardo Bachino of Jacksonville State, Hank Grant of Samford, Antonio Hefner of Tennessee State, Bryce Kristal of Southeast Missouri State, Morgan Melzer of Morehead State and Donald Thomas of Eastern Illinois.
The NCAA received 1,308 nominations from 330 member schools, with each school able to nominate as many as four student-athletes. MSU's other nominees were Tyler Holloway of men's basketball, Josh Jones of football and Ashley Meagher of volleyball.
"The process is very selective," said Murray State CHAMPS/Life Skills program coordinator Rosanne Radke. "Our four nominees were selected based on their leadership skills, but they also have to be involved with things outside of their sport and be willing to give back to the community. They have to be well-rounded individuals -- not just team leaders, but leaders within their community."
This is the second straight year for Murray State to have a student-athlete participate in the conference. Quinton Haskins of football was MSU's representative last year.
The NCAA National Leadership Conference provides NCAA student-athletes with a forum to openly discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while providing them with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem solving skills.
The leadership conference also promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities. The five-day leadership conference consists of daily exercises and activities to help the student-athletes develop as individuals and as contributing members to a group.
The conference is an outreach of the successful CHAMPS/Life Skills Program and involves about 325 student-athletes who compete each year in fall, winter and spring sports in Divisions I, II and III. Many of the student-athletes who participate are members of their conference and campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAACs).
