By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Analyssa Ruiz (Sr./So., Keizer, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) from the Willamette University women's golf team has been selected to participate in the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program. Student-Athletes chosen for the program will be involved from Jan. 13-15 during the virtual 2021 NCAA Convention
A total of 40 ethnic minority student-athletes are chosen for the Student Immersion Program each year. Participants will learn about NCAA Division III and the process of passing new NCAA legislation. All athletes in the Student Immersion Program will complete a DiSC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness) personal assessment tool. The DiSC results will be a starting point for discussing behavioral differences and will also help each student-athlete learn about their own motivations and style of interacting with others.
"I am so proud of Analyssa for being accepted into the NCAA Immersion program this year," said Willamette Associate AD/Senior Woman Administrator Leslie Shevlin. "She had a wonderful application, and has some really good ideas of how she can make an impact in collegiate athletics in the future. Attending the program during the NCAA Convention will be an enriching experience that I know Analyssa will work to get the most out of."
Ruiz is the second Willamette student-athlete in as many years to be invited to the NCAA Student Immersion Program. Kyana Benjamin (Sr., MH, Lubbock, TX/Lubbock HS) from the volleyball team participated at the 2020 NCAA Convention.
"I am very grateful to be nominated for this program and to be accepted into it!" Ruiz said. "I hope it will open up opportunities for me that I would not regularly have. I can't wait to network and connect with different people from all over and am hoping to learn more about future careers in athletics. Through this experience, I hope to learn more about myself and how I can contribute to the athletic community as a whole. I am so excited to be able to have this opportunity. I can't wait!"
Launched in 2015, the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program is designed to develop talented ethnic minority candidates for jobs in intercollegiate athletics with a focus on coaching and administrative jobs in NCAA Division III.
Ruiz is in her second season as a member of the Willamette University women's golf team. In 2019-20, she lowered her score by 30 strokes during the season. She helped the Bearcats lower their team score by 78 strokes.
