Purpose
Student-Athletes Speak Out (SASO)

To promote character education in WV middle school students on the following topics

  • Drugs
  • Academics
  • Caring and Compassion
  • Respect and Self-Respect
  • Self-Confidence
  • Courage and Responsibility

To increase awareness of mandated character education in WV public schools (PK-12)

To offer WV middle schools two tools to integrate character education into the existing curricula

  • SASO DVDs that feature West Virginia University student-athletes speaking about character education topics
  • SASO Web Site that offers additional information, lesson plans, and links on character education and academic topics

To offer discussion questions, scenarios, and suggestions for writing and speaking assignments designed to develop student critical thinking, reflection, interaction, and creativity

To offer middle school students the opportunity to investigate character education related topics either individually, in small groups, or in the entire class.

To encourage discussion in an open forum among WV middle school students with regard to character education topics

To introduce WV middle school students to WVU student-athletes who are character education advocates

  • Joe Alexander, Basketball
  • Ashley Banks, Soccer
  • Halimah Bashir, Track
  • Mike Dent, Football
  • Tito Gonzales, Football
  • Alex Ruoff, Basketball

Note: Private schools in West Virginia may request the DVDs if they can provide documentation that the highest grade level in the school is the 8th grade. The request and the documentation may be sent to Carolyn.Atkins@mail.wvu.edu.