CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has been recognized by Insight Into Academia Magazine, earning a spot on the 2026 Civic Engagement and Community Service award list. SAAC was one of four CSU organizations to earn the honor, joining the Center for Refugee and Immigrant Success, College of Health and Lift Up Vikes! Resource Center and Food Pantry.
 
The Cleveland State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee mission is to create a transformational experience for student-athletes by providing opportunities to develop leadership and voice, build community and promote well-being and service. Led by a board of peers, SAAC encompasses all 275 student-athletes from 16 teams with monthly meetings and department-wide events.
 
Through SAAC, Cleveland State student-athletes participated in over 900 hours of leadership programming and contributed more than 220 hours of community service initiatives. These initiatives include team-specific events, department-wide activities and a variety of community events.
 
Insight Into Academia's Civic Engagement and Community Service Awards recognize colleges and universities that demonstrate innovation and sustained commitment to community partnership. Honorees are selected for impactful work in volunteerism, fundraising for community causes, advocacy and public education, civic participation and voter engagement, among other initiatives. This year's honorees will be featured in the April 2026 issue of Insight Into Academic magazine.