Washington, DC - Cal Poly Pomona cross country and track & field student-athlete Vivian Martinez had the unique opportunity to represent the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) at the NCAA National Convention, serving as the conference's official Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative.

The NCAA Convention is the Association's annual gathering that brings together delegates and leaders from all three divisions for four days of education, legislation, and celebration. Official Convention activities include educational sessions, business meetings, leadership development opportunities, and awards presentations. With student-athletes from multiple sports and conference in attendance, the event provides a rare platform for collaboration and shared governance across the NCAA.

Martinez was the sole student-athlete representing the CCAA at the Convention, joining one student-athlete representative from each NCAA conference nationwide. This unique role gave her the responsibility to speak on behalf of all student-athletes within the CCAA. Throughout the week, she participated in meetings, discussions, and leadership sessions designed specifically for student-athlete representatives before joining athletic directors, conference commissioners, and NCAA leadership later in the Convention.

"Honestly, it was a full and demanding schedule, but completely worth the experience," Martinez said. "Monday and Tuesday were focused on student-athletes from all three divisions, giving us the chance to learn from each other, interact, and understand how each division approaches the student-athlete experience."

During those early sessions, Martinez gained insight into national initiatives such as Team IMPACT and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, leadership development programs, and the NCAA's ongoing focus on mental health. She also participated in conversations with NCAA President Charlie Baker, an experience she described as a highlight of the week.

As the voice of the CCAA, Martinez's role extended beyond learning. She helped convey conference-wide perspectives on proposals and priorities that would later be voted on by athletic directors and commissioners. Although the SAAC voting process had finalized many decisions a few months prior, the Convention provided Martinez with an opportunity to raise any additional concerns, clarify the conference's position, and offer context directly to conference and national leadership.

"I wasn't speaking from my personal experience," Martinez explained. "I was speaking with the conference in mind, focusing on what our student-athletes across all institutions were saying and feeling."
 

Martinez also met directly with CCAA leadership later in the week, where she fielded questions from athletic directors and administrators and shared insights from national SAAC discussions. She noted that Division II's emphasis on listening to student-athletes stood out when compared to conversations across divisions.
 

"One of the biggest things I learned is how much our division truly values student-athlete voices," she said. "Division II really lives by the 'Make It Yours' motto. People were open, engaged, and genuinely interested in what student-athletes had to say."

Beyond formal meetings, the Convention offered opportunities for broader conversations about burnout, mental health, and leadership. A keynote address focused on burnout resonated strongly with Martinez, highlighting that challenges faced by student-athletes are often shared by administrators and leaders at every level.
 

Returning from the Convention, Martinez is eager to bring new ideas back to the CCAA, including increased communication among conference SAAC members, expanded community service initiatives, and further development of mental health resources. She also expressed interest in exploring partnerships like Team IMPACT at the conference level, inspired by conversations she had during the week.

Now in her senior year, Martinez says the experience has opened her eyes to potential future opportunities within athletics administration.

"This position has shown me what happens behind the scenes," she said. "It's made me excited to learn more and see how I can continue to make an impact beyond just competing."

Through her leadership and advocacy, Martinez not only represented Cal Poly Pomona, but also ensured that student-athletes across the CCAA had a voice on one of the NCAA's largest national stages.