Oakton student-athlete to serve on NJCAA committee

At Oakton Community College, student-athlete Jacelyn Islas, (Chicago, Lake View High) will gain a valuable opportunity to make her career dreams a reality. She is a member of the inaugural class of Student-Athlete Council representatives for the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA).

The NJCAA consists of 24 regions across the country. Islas, captain of the Oakton women’s soccer team, is just one of just two student-athletes chosen to represent NJCAA Region IV, which is composed of more than 40 community colleges in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Christine Paciero, senior manager of Athletics at Oakton, nominated Islas for her leadership as the captain of the women’s soccer team and for passion of sports. According to the NJCAA, the organization selected Islas because of her “success on and off the field, leadership within the community and desire to continually create new opportunities for those around her.”

On the council, Islas will be part of a nationwide contingent to promote effective communication between the regional and national administration and the student-athlete population to work to provide a transparent experience for student-athletes nationwide.

Islas, who is interested in a career in sports management or as an athletic trainer is eager to serve her term on the committee, which begins in November and runs through June 2021.

“When I first found out about this position I was shocked because only two people are selected for each region,” she says. “I just couldn’t believe I was selected. I was just so proud and excited. The opportunity of working with the NJCAA will help me with my career plans because they will offer an opportunity to develop our educational and personal skills. The national administrators will provide us with feedback and recommendations to any questions or ideas I may have. To work with sports management you must know how an organization runs. Having an opportunity to work beside the NJCAA is a huge opportunity to gain experience at a national level.”

Islas began playing soccer when she was 6 years old. She wants to pass along how participating in sports opens doors.

“Being involved in athletics is important because it gives you an opportunity to have an impact in yourself, individuals, the community and school,” she says. “It shows hard work and dedication to be successful on and off the field pays off. Through sports, you meet amazing people from all different kinds of backgrounds and unite as a whole. Being in the world of athletics show you the best version of yourself. The competition makes you stronger as a person each day and provides opportunities for the future.”

Islas will be part of a committee structured with the following tasks:

• Providing student-athletes with an opportunity to have input into the educational and personal development programs that serve the needs of today’s student-athletes.
• Using experiences as student-athletes at the two-year level to provide a voice to all NJCAA student-athletes.
• Providing thoughts and opinions on current and proposed legislation while using their experiences to provide feedback and recommendations.
• Engaging and participating at institutional, regional and national levels.