April 29, 2000
VILLANOVA, PA.--- Villanova University student-athlete Nick Piantek (Wallingford, Conn./ Notre Dame High School) was recently awarded an invitation to the 2000 NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference, "Today's Student-Athletes, Tomorrow's Leaders," to be held on May 28-June 1 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Visa, Fla. A junior from Wallingford, Conn., and Notre Dame High School, Piantek is a three-year member of the Wildcat baseball team.
The NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference will involve as many 350 outstanding student-athletes representing CHAMPS/Life Skills Institutions and the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committees. The mission of the NCAA Foundation 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 committees.
Each institution had to nominate four student-athletes who have demonstrated an ability or strong desire to be leaders, and would benefit from a significant leadership experience. A selection committee then chose one individual from each school to represent each CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, keeping in mind a desired goal of maximum diversity of conference participants. The committee chose the participants based upon their applications, which included athletic and academic accomplishments, service and leadership experiences, as well as a personal statement.
Piantek is a key leader on and off the field at Villanova University. A first baseman/outfielder for the Wildcat baseball team, he is currently among the team leaders in batting (.330) and RBI (28). As a freshman in 1998, Piantek hit .306, with 11 doubles, eight home runs and 46 RBI. He had another solid season as a sophomore in 1999, posting a .255 average, nine doubles, nine home runs and 40 RBI.
Piantek has been just as successful off the field, where he is a mathematics major and a participant in a number of campus activities including the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC).
