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Purple Knights News

COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College junior swimmer Stephanie Hammer (Billings, Mont./Billings West) and junior men's lacrosse player Taylor Smoke (Hogansburg, N.Y./Salmon River/Vermont Academy) have been selected to represent the College at the 2008 NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference, it was recently announced.

The NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference "provides NCAA student-athletes with a forum to openly discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while also providing them with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills," according to its website. The conference "also promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities". In its 12th year, the 2008 NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference will be held May 25-29 at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

All NCAA member institutions are encouraged to nominate four student-athletes. The selection committee received 1,840 nominations from 462 NCAA institutions, and a total of 700 student-athletes were selected to participate in next month's conference. In order to be eligible, applicants must be in good academic standing and must have athletics eligibility remaining in the following academic year. 
           

"I am very honored and excited to be given the chance to attend the NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference," said Smoke. "I hope that this conference will help both me and my teammates become better student-athletes and better leaders, on and off the field. I'm thankful for this opportunity."

"To be at Disney World with hundreds of student-athletes from around the nation is a thrill," said Hammer. "I can't wait to learn more about leadership from one of the most prestigious conferences in athletics, and to bring that knowledge back to the Saint Michael's community."
           

"Stephanie and Taylor are excellent choices to represent Saint Michael's College at the 2008 NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference," said Director of Athletics Geri Knortz. "Not only will they benefit from this valuable program that focuses on student development and leadership, but so too will their teammates, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and the Saint Michael's community."
           

Hammer, a psychology major and biology/Spanish double minor with a 3.502 Grade Point Average, has been a standout swimmer for the Purple Knights the last three winters. She holds the program record in both the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:13.17) and the 1,650-yard freestyle (18:46.67), both of which were set on Feb. 17, 2006 at the New England Regionals. Hammer, who spent the fall 2007 semester studying abroad, is the first person in program history from Montana.

Smoke, a history major and English minor, has been a solid contributor for the Saint Michael's men's lacrosse program the last three seasons. He has appeared in every contest for the Purple Knights the last two seasons, and this spring netted his first collegiate goal in a victory versus Franklin Pierce University. Smoke has played in the Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships, as well as the men's ice hockey National Aboriginal Championship.