Marion, AL. – Jessica Cross, freshman softball player from Brookwood, Alabama (Brookwood HS) has been selected as one of the 48 representatives to the NJCAA Student-Athlete Council (SAC). Jessica will join Snead State's Lawrence Hammonds as one of the two student-athletes representing the Alabama Community College Conference Student-Athlete Leadership Council.

The NJCAA created the NJCAA Student-Athlete Council in August 2020 and is chaired by Heather Conger, NJCAA Region 19 Women's Assistant Director and Aaron Bouyea, NJCAA Region 3 Men's Assistant Director. The council will provide student-athletes from all 24 NJCAA regions the opportunity to engage and grow with other student-athletes and professionals in the field of intercollegiate athletics.

The council will meet via Zoom throughout the year to discuss relevant dynamics surrounding student-athletes at the two-year college level today. Council members will also attend the annual NJCAA Convention, serve a variety of roles on the council, assist with decision making, as well as propose new ideas in meetings with NJCAA leadership and national office leadership. 

Goals for the committee include but are not limited to: Advance NJCAA student-athlete voices to include them in national dialogue, create new opportunities for the student-athletes experience, encourage student-athlete opinions on current or proposed legislation, provide recommendations based on student-athlete involvement, and increase engagement and participation by NJCAA Student-Athletes at a regional and national scope.