Submitted photo – Members of the H-DN Student Athlete Advisory Council at a recent meeting.

By Ray Hamill — The H-DN Student Advisory Council is getting back in the swing of things with some big plans for the future.

It hasn’t been an easy journey the past couple of years, with COVID hampering the council’s progress, but this school year has been far more productive and that’s good news for student athletes all across the H-DNL.

The council, which was founded in the 2018/19 school year, is made up of two representatives from all 11 schools in the league and meets four or five times a year at various schools to discuss relevant topics that impact the lives of H-DNL student athletes.

Each member school has one male and one female student athlete on the council — typically a junior and a senior — who are chosen by their school administrators.

“They’re kind of the voice of the student athletes in the league,” council advisor Kristie Christiansen said.

The council members also offer a unique perspective for the league’s decision makers.

“Basically it’s a committee made up of student athletes that offer opinions on rules, regulations and policies that affect student athletes in the member schools,” Christiansen added. “And it helps them build their leadership skills and it promotes good relationships among the member schools.”

This week, the council members got to celebrate National Student Athlete Day, which is held annually on April 6.

The day is set aside to recognize high school and college student athletes all around the country and to promote the positive virtues of sport, student athletes as a whole, and the positive affect they both have on society.

The H-DN council appears to be doing that and more here on the North Coast.

Among the topics the members have been addressing this year is the “dire situation” in regard to the shortage of high school officials as well as the need to promote good sportsmanship around the league.

The council also features a number of committees that are addressing the relevant topics, with some big plans for the future.

According to Christiansen, the council is planning on promoting an annual league sportsmanship award, as well as creating a contest of fans, with more details on both to be announced at a later date.

“We have a bunch of things we’re doing right now,” the advisor said.

The meetings also feature guest speakers, including league commissioner Jack Lakin, who spoke at the most recent get together.

“I just feel like it provides an opportunity for student athletes from member schools to sit at a table and have the opportunity to interact away from the field,” Christiansen.

And all the members are glad to be back in the swing of things after a disappointing couple of years.

“This year we’re back and we’ve been able to really get going again,” Christiansen said.