NCAA Official Release

Staten Island, NY – Sophomore Greg Senat (Elmont, NY/Elmont [Marianpolis Prep]) of the Wagner men's basketball team was chosen from a group of Northeast Conference (NEC) student-athletes to represent the conference at the 2015 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Orlando, FL from April 9-12.
 
"The Student-Athlete Leadership Forum is an excellent way to provide student-athletes with a non-traditional form of education that centers on developing them as leaders in their communities and on their campuses," said Curtis J. Hollomon, NCAA Director of Leadership Development.  "It ultimately prepares them for life after their collegiate playing days are over."
 
Senat was one of two NEC student-athletes, along with Fairleigh Dickinson junior women's soccer player Katey Arathoon, among more than 200 student-athletes from across Division I, II and III, to take part in the event.
 
"It was an amazing experience and I am very fortunate that I had the chance to represent Wagner College and the Northeast Conference at this forum," said the second-year power forward. "We listened to a lot of motivational speakers, those that have participated in the Olympics and it taught me how to become a better leader."
 
"One of the highlights for me was having the opportunity to listen and talk to so many student-athletes at the Division I, II, and III levels and allowed me to gain a better understanding of their experiences and perception," said NEC Director of Events and Operations, Teneshia Ruff. "In my role as an administrator at the Conference office, I don't have the opportunity to interact with a lot of student-athlets on a personal level, so truly getting to know them and their stories was the highlight of my weekend.
 
"I believe that the NCAA Leadership Development organizing did a tremendous job of splitting up the overall attending group into set teams that were really inclusive of various sports, collegiate level of play as well as effectively including administrators and coaches on campus, and those administrators working in conference offices," she added.
 
On the first day of the forum, the participants attended different sessions. The day was highlighted by a captivitating presentation from April Holmes, a multiple time gold medalist and Paralympic athlete April Holmes.

The first day was basically a meet and interact kind of day," said Senat. "We participated in various 'ice-breaking' exercises while giving our interpretations of what being a leader means to us after we saw different quotes from very influential people, like Nelson Mandela."
 
On Saturday, Senat was on hand for a session by Dr. Derek Greenfield, who has delivered keynotes and workshops on issues of diversity and inclusion, motivation, team building and student development. After Dr. Greenfield's presentation, the entire group of attendees took part in the fourm's service activity, which benefited the Orlando, Florida's Community Food and Outreach Center.

"Dr. Greenfield was very informative and I gained a lot of perspective from what he was telling us," Senat explains. "It was very rewarding to help the Orlando Community Food and Outreach Center."
 
The forum concluded on Sunday with keynote address from Mark Everett, a a retired middle-distance runner who won the bronze medal in the 800-meter event at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo. 
 
Prior to the 2014-2015 season, Senat, a 6-8, 240-pound forward, was nominated for the 2015 Allstate NABC Good Works Team, which recognizes a distinguished group of student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good in their communities. 
 
Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@wagnerathletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department and for news and updates on the men's basketball program. Follow head coach Bashir Mason (@BashirMason) for news on the third-year head coach.