Four SUNY Brockport student-athletes, along with Brockport Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) mentor and Assistant Athletic Director Justin Beach, represented the Golden Eagles at the annual Empire 8 Conference Student-Athlete Leadership Summit, held January 30–31.

Liam Malgieri (football), Amelia Breton (women's soccer), Trevor Legarde (men's soccer), and Julia Klodzinski (field hockey) joined student-athlete leaders from across the conference for a two-day experience focused on leadership development, collaboration, and personal growth both on and off the field of play.

The summit featured interactive leadership sessions, small-group discussions, and team-building activities designed to strengthen communication skills, encourage peer leadership, and empower student-athletes to make a positive impact within their teams and campus communities. Participants also had the opportunity to connect with fellow SAAC representatives from Empire 8 institutions and share best practices related to student-athlete engagement and advocacy.

A highlight of the weekend was the keynote address delivered by Lucinda Snyder, who spoke on mental resilience, confidence, and competing with purpose. Her message challenged student-athletes to embrace leadership through mindset, accountability, and intentional preparation — lessons that extend far beyond competition.

"Our student-athletes did a terrific job representing Brockport," said Beach. "This summit provides valuable perspective and tools that help our SAAC leaders grow as teammates, campus leaders, and ambassadors for our athletics department."

The experience aligns with SUNY Brockport's commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes and fostering leadership through service, education, and competition. The Golden Eagles will bring the lessons learned at the summit back to campus as they continue to support SAAC initiatives and enhance the student-athlete experience at Brockport.