SAACthlete of the Week - Chris Stowell
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami men’s basketball player Chris Stowell is an active member in the Hurricanes’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. See how Miami SAAC has helped this Hurricane senior prepare for life after graduation in this week’s SAACthlete of the Week.
Why did you decide to be a part of SAAC?
“My freshman year, my teammate Joe Thomas invited me to a SAAC meeting and to talk with Shirelle (Jackson) about joining SAAC. He told me how SAAC members help their teammates and help the community. Shirelle told me how I’d be able to do these things as well as develop myself and have fun doing it. All of that sounded great, so I decided to join!”
What is your favorite memory from SAAC?
“My favorite memory from SAAC is doing the C-A-N-E-S chant with Sebastian and the other SAAC reps on the football practice field. We were taking a video of it for the “What is SAAC?” video. It was a lot of fun and we got a lot of good laughs watching each other mess up trying to do the movements right. It felt like a huge accomplishment once we got on the same page and did it correctly.”
Why did you pick Miami?
“I chose UM because of its overall academic reputation and the reputation of its business school. I saw it as a great place to learn about business, get a degree, and prepare myself to have a successful career. Coming from up north, I also really wanted some warmer weather.”
What is your favorite moment in your sport so far as a Hurricane?
“My favorite moment in basketball as a Hurricane was going to the Sweet 16 in 2016. It was an incredible experience. I grew up watching the NCAA tournament and dreaming of being a part of it. It was a lot of fun for my teammates and knowing that all eyes were on us and that we had accomplished something that most teams had not.”
What skills have you gained from being in SAAC or through the many developing events?
“From being in SAAC, I have gained a wide variety of skills from attended SAAC events and helping to plan them. SAAC events helped me develop my professionalism, my networking skills, and my communication skills. Being a member of SAAC has helped me develop skills in giving and receiving feedback, motivating others, and teamwork.”
How has your team benefitted from having a SAAC?
“The basketball team has been able to attend events to develop professional skills, career skills, and networking skills to help prepare for life after basketball. We have also benefitted by being able to get involved in more community events like helping with Best Buddies and doing Pen Pal Letters.”
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your college career and how did you overcome it?
“The biggest challenge in my college career has been finding a way to fit in all my classes and class work around my basketball schedule. I’ve been able to overcome this by being proactive about conflicts and trying to resolve problems before they actually happen.”
Tell us about your plans after graduation. How did your experiences through SAAC help you prepare for life after sport?
“For after graduation, I have accepted a job to work for Citi doing Treasury and Trade Solutions in NYC. My experiences in SAAC helped me to build connections and get involved with Citi and that’s ultimately what led to me getting the job! SAAC has helped me to understand teamwork and how to plan things that benefit others and these are skills that will help me for the rest of my life!”
Fun fact?
“I’m into nutrition and I like to cook.”
