SAINT PETER, Minn. - For Kylie Scott, helping has become a way of life. Whether it's on the ice, dishing out assists to her women's hockey teammates, in the classroom, majoring in Biology with a desire to go to medical school, or in extracurriculars like Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), Scott helps wherever she goes. 

Last fall, Scott helped sponsor an event for Gift of Life Marrow Registry, a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating blood stem cell and bone marrow matches for potential transplants, thanks to a partnership with Chi Alpha Sigma. Her donor drive, hosted in October of 2024, identified a lifesaving match for a 33-year-old man battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Now, a year later, that same drive has helped to find another match, this time a 55-year-old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. 

"Organizing the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Registry drive required a huge amount of collaboration and support from fellow SAAC members" said Scott. "From coordinating with the Gift of Life organization to tabling on campus and recruiting students to join the registry, it was truly a collective effort. As a leadership group within SAAC, we knew we wanted to bring the event back after the overwhelming success of last year's drive. The idea was first brought to the attention of former assistant athletic director (Rachelle Sherden) and I immediately recognized it as an opportunity to make an impact that extended far beyond the Gustavus community".

This initiative represents everything SAAC strives to be on campus, including a way for Gustavus Athletics to reach the larger community in a positive way. "The Gustavus Adolphus College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) strives to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare, and supporting and fostering a positive student-athlete image" says the SAAC homepage on the Gustavus Athletics website.

The success of last year's campaign, bringing two matches, inspired the effort to be continued this fall. "With the support of SAAC members and our advisors, Hailey Hill and Jared Phillips, we were able to bring this initiative to life for a second time this year" said Scott. "Finding another match is something that truly leaves me speechless. This initiative represents growth, purpose, and impact beyond athletics, allowing us to make a meaningful difference in people's lives in ways that go far beyond the classroom or competition".

The goals of Gustavus SAAC, in part, echo the larger goals and priorities of NCAA Division III athletics, including the opportunity to help outside of sport. Proportion is the first priority listed on the NCAA website of Division III priorities, "Division III athletics provides a well-rounded collegiate experience that involves a balance of rigorous academics, competitive athletics and the opportunity to pursue a multitude of other co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities". 

This holistic approach is exactly what Scott has been taking advantage of for over two years now, competing in all 66 possible games across her two and a half years on the hill while studying Biology and picking up multiple academic achievement awards along with her work with SAAC. "It continually amazes me how much our athletes give back to our community, on top of balancing their academic load and athletic responsibilities" said women's hockey head coach Mike Carroll. "I am very proud of Kylie, her leadership skills and involvement with SAAC. Truly making a difference". 

The work in her community sets a great example for the rest of the conference and turned heads at the conference level as well. "Being a student-athlete can provide tremendous opportunities for leadership development through competition, and Kylie is a phenomenal example of someone who has applied the difference-making abilities she's learned on the ice to make a literal life-saving impact in the world, well beyond the scope of athletics" said MIAC Assistant Commissioner BJ Pickard. "Her work with the Gift of Life marrow registry through SAAC and Chi Alpha Sigma is an inspiring reminder of what can be possible when we use our skill sets and platforms in service to others".

The Champlin, Minn. native has been very influential on the ice for the Gusties, serving as a captain this season as a junior. Across two and a half seasons, Scott has accumulated a 49-17-0 record when she's on the ice including a 35-7-0 record in MIAC play. Individually, Scott has 31 points in 66 games played, including three assists this season, good for a tie for second on the team. 

About Chi Alpha Sigma

The National College Athlete Honor Society, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in 1996. Theta Chi Alpha and Chi Alpha Sigma work with state chapters of two- and four-year institutions to recognize college student-athletes who excel in their sport, the classroom, and the community.

About Gift of Life Marrow Registry

Gift of Life Marrow Registry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla. Established in 1991, the organization is dedicated to saving lives by facilitating blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood-related diseases. The registry houses its state-of-the-art stem cell collection center, biobank, and laboratory. To learn more about the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, visit www.giftoflife.org.

About NCAA DIII SAAC

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) represents the Division III student-athlete voice in the Division III governance structure by reviewing legislation; identifying significant student-athlete issues; implementing national student-athlete based initiatives; encouraging community outreach; and enhancing Division III student-athlete involvement in and understanding of Division III in general. The SAAC is also the committee that is primarily responsible for maintaining and coordinating the division's nationwide partnership with Special Olympics. The committee meets in-person three times each year in January, July and November and has a teleconference in April.