Student-athletes are celebrating their achievements today, as the governor proclaimed April 6 "Student-Athlete Day" in Pennsylvania.

The proclamation was signed in response to requests made by Nittany Lion Craig Fayak, who is also a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Board, and Richard Lapchick, director for the Center of Study for Sport and Society in Boston. The National Consortium for Academics and Sports and the NCAA also sponsored the event.

"This is a national observance," said John Taylor, deputy press secretary to Gov. Bob Casey. "The sponsors request the President and governors to issue proclamations thus making it Student Athlete Day."

Taylor said Gov. Casey played collegiate basketball while earning his degree.

In the proclamation, Casey said that athletics combined with an education can "give our young people the skills they need to compete in our rapidly changing society and lead us in the future."

He wrote, "However, in spite of all the positive aspects of sports, overemphasis on them at the expense of education can cause serious harm to an athlete's future after athletics. . .I urge all Pennsylvanians to reemphasize the 'student' in the term student-athlete."

Members of SAAB intend to do that this week, as they reach out to University staff by attending faculty luncheons in the Nittany Lion Inn.

"This year we're approaching (Student-Athlete Week) in a whole new sense," said Michael Chang, SAAB President and member of the swimming team.

Chang said SAAB is trying to "break the stereotype of the dumb-jock" by letting professors get to know athletes on a level other than someone who may have to miss classes for competitions.

During the past seven years that Penn State has recognized Student-Athlete Week, SAAB's emphasis has been on community involvement. SAAB continues that agenda this week, as four to five members will be visiting local schools every day. The student-athletes will speak to children about goal setting, peer pressure, the dangers of drug abuse, and dealing with success and failure, said Fayak.