The leadership conference provides NCAA student-athletes with a forum to openly discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while also providing them with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills.

The conference also promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities. The five-day leadership conference consists of daily exercises and activities to help the student-athletes develop as individuals and as contributing members to a group.

The program involves close to 325 student-athletes each year who compete in fall, winter and spring sports in Divisions I, II and III.

For the past year, Cherry, a Suisun,Calif., native, was part of Sacramento State’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was nominated by Sacramento State to attend the conference, before being selected by the NCAA.