During the month of March, Southeast Missouri State sophomore cross country and track and field runner Megan Parks was chosen to attend the NCAA Leadership Forum in Orlando, Florida, from April 9-12.

Parks will represent both Southeast and the Ohio Valley Conference at this year's forum.

The NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum is devoted to helping student-athletes build skills throughout their career in sports.

There will be more than 300 athletes, coaches and faculty members in attendance at the fourm.

"I applied to be a part of the leadership forum and they selected two people out of our conference," Parks said. "I was selected along with another track athlete from Tennessee State."

Before Parks began her career in cross country at Southeast, she was a devoted track runner for North County High School in Bonne Terre, Missouri.

Upon realization of her ability to perform well during a 5k race, she decided to make a switch.

"I started running track in middle school, I didn't run cross country until I came to Southeast," Parks said. "Whenever I came here, I was originally suppose to only do track. At a time trial I ran a pretty good time and my coach told me to start running cross country. I ran 19:30 my freshmen year, and this year I finished at 18:12."

It wasn't until a conference meet her sophomore year that she realized she had a knack for running longer distances.

"I ran decent enough to make the conference squad my freshmen year, but I didn't really improve until this year where I placed 17th at conference," Parks said. "I never expected to be that good at cross country. I just of expected it to keep me in shape for track."

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at Southeast is an organization brought together to provide students the ability to voice their thoughts and opinions within the athletic department and across campus.

The mission of SAAC is to strengthen the athletic experience as well as promote a positive image for student-athletes everywhere.

"Through SAAC I came really close with Rachel Blunt, who is the assistant director of compliance here at Southeast. She recommended I join OVC SAAC," Parks said. "We have two conferences a year as well as an in-person meeting. At the in-person meeting, I meet a lot of people involved in OVC SAAC. And me, along with another student at Southeast, went to that conference. I got an email recommending I apply to the leadership forum in Florida, and the OVC would select two athletes to go."

The selection for attendance is determined by a letter of recommendation written by a person who is familiar with the student athlete and their accomplishments.

"Rachel did a great write up for me for whenever she turned in her bio for me and included a lot of stuff I have done here at Southeast. It is really exciting, and I am very honored to be selected," Parks said.

Aside from attending the forum this April, Parks is also enthusiastic about what lies ahead for the team's future.

While the Southeast women's cross country and track and field team is losing its senior strength, Parks has faith the team members can finish near the top of the OVC in the outdoor season.

"To place top three in the conference is the team goal this semester," Parks said. "A lot of girls are graduating. I think we can build on the new freshmen we have gotten and a couple sophomore standouts we have. Next year will be a little bit of a rebuilding year for us since we are losing so many people, but mainly it's to build on the strength of those people and make improvements upon those we have."