April 18, 2006

Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University junior Jacob Weitz (Lovettsville, Va.) has been selected to represent Mason at the 2006 NCAA Leadership Conference, "Today's Student-Athletes, Tomorrow's Leaders", as announced by the NCAA. Weitz will be one of approximately 325 outstanding student-athletes that will attend this four-day conference.

"I am very glad and surprised that the NCAA selected me to attend the this leadership conference," said Weitz. "I have heard that it is an amazing experience and am looking forward to sharing my volunteer experiences with student-athletes from around the country."

Weitz, a defender on the soccer field, spearheaded a collection drive for victims of Hurricane Katrina in October 2005, which made a difference for many individuals. Weitz formulated the idea after speaking to Kim Bindursky, a friend in Louisiana he had met this past summer at a soccer camp. Weitz knew he had to find a way to help after recognizing the severity of the damage caused by the hurricane. He then challenged the other student-athletes at Mason to assist in the drive.

The student-athletes responded as they collected five boxes of toiletries, paper goods and other sanitary items, along with a cash donation that totaled $800. Weitz gathered all the items and sent them to Bindursky to distribute in the small town of Alexandria, La., which is 80 miles north of New Orleans.

In addition, Weitz participated in an Alternative Spring Break in Foley, Ala. this past March as he helped rebuild the homes of two of the residents. The program, Storm Corps, was sponsored by MTV and Weitz was one of 100 individuals selected out of 3,000 applicants to travel to Alabama to help rebuild the homes.

"The NCAA Leadership Conference is a wonderful opportunity for student-athletes, like Jacob," said Nena Rogers, Director of Life Skills. "Attending this conference is not only a great honor for him, to be selected as Mason's representative, but Jacob will also walk away with an experience of a lifetime."

The mission of the NCAA Leadership Conference is to develop a diverse group of student-athletes who will actively participate in and experience a multitude of challenging and thought-provoking activities that will enable them to become change agents on their campuses and in their communities.