Another Roaring Success for SAAC Field Day

On Sunday, April 2 more than 90 children from the Pittsburgh community came to Carnegie Mellon University’s campus to participate in the seventh annual Carnegie Mellon Athletics Field Day. Field Day has been hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) each April since 2011 when it was established by then-football and track and field student-athlete Liam McGrath. A mathematics major, McGrath created Field Day after working with children in sports camps during his summers as an athlete.

Sunday’s event included six sport stations spread around the athletics facilities. Track, field, and football stations were outside at Gesling stadium, soccer activities were hosted on the soccer field, while basketball and volleyball were hosted in Skibo Gymnasium.

“It was an amazing day at Carnegie Mellon, and I am grateful to our student-athletes for putting together such a meaningful program for our community,” said Director of Athletics Josh Centor. “The SAAC Field Day is something so many children and families look forward to each spring. It was wonderful to see so many happy kids running around our facilities, getting important exercise and working with the best role models out there.”

Six groups of children were paired with varsity student-athletes who got to know to participants while teaching skills pertaining to each sport in a fun and engaging environment.

Sophomore Isaac Mills of the men’s track and field team helped organize the event and said, “I think that volunteering is a lot of fun. These kids are great and they are funny. When you leave after volunteering, you have had a good time and walk away glad that you had the opportunity to give these kids a fun active day.”