Community service is an integral piece of the Princeton student-athlete experience. In the Fall of 2013, the Student-Athlete Service Council (SASC) was created for the purpose of supporting and coordinating service opportunities for Princeton student-athletes. SASC provides volunteer opportunities throughout the year to accommodate the busy schedules of student-athletes. The council works closely with the Pace Center, the administration of the Princeton Varsity Club, and representatives from each of the 38 varsity sports teams.
“During my four years at Princeton, I’ve been inspired by the commitment and dedication to service that I’ve seen amongst both varsity student-athletes and the hundreds of students involved in weekly service projects coordinated by Princeton’s Pace Center for Civic Engagement. I envision the Student-Athlete Service Council as a bridge between Princeton Athletics and the Pace Center, to broaden our varsity teams’ reach in the community and to simplify the process of finding and organizing a service project. I’m excited to see SASC grow and expand; particularly, to develop innovative ways to provide information and encourage student-athletes to get more deeply involved in service.” –Tiana Woolridge ’15 (Women’s Volleyball), SASC Founder
Ophélie Bemelmans ’23
Hanno Brach ’24
Kari Buonanno ’24
Daniella Calabrese ’24
SJ Cohen ’24
Jack Crockett ’23
Erica De San Jorge ’25
Samantha DeVito ’24
Henry Dubiel ’24
Colin Freer ’24
Jackson Fretty ’24
Grace Jackson ’24
Mia James ’25
Liam Johnson ’24
Josey Klein ’25
Ellie Mueller ’24
Aria Nagai ’24
Mindy Pang ’23
Harrison Roberts ’25
Annie Robinson ’23
Maddie Seltzer ’25
Serena Starks ’23
Jalen Travis ’24
Sophie Whiteway ’25
Ryan Winkler ’24
Ophélie Bemelmans ’23
Ophélie Bemelmans ’23 is a senior from Maastricht, the Netherlands. She is a forward/midfielder for the Princeton field hockey team and is earning a degree in economics with a certificate in political economy. In high school, Ophélie volunteered at her local field hockey club in the Netherlands, coaching younger children and setting up clinics and camps for them. She was also involved as a volunteer in teaching children with severe dyslexia how to read and navigate their reading difficulties. Ophélie is looking forward to serving the Princeton community with SASC every chance she gets.
Hanno Brach ’24
Hanno Brach ’24 is a junior on the men’s heavyweight rowing team studying in the School of Public and International Affairs. Growing up as a young athlete in Hessen, Germany, Hanno wanted to make youth sports more accessible to children in his community, so he helped introduce legislation to his state minister that provided additional government support for athletic programs. Since coming to Princeton, he has volunteered with the Princeton STEM to Stern program which connects children in underserved communities to educational activities and the sport of rowing. Hanno has a strong passion for helping children find the power in sports, and is excited to help lead youth sports clinics and other mentorship programs with SASC.
Kari Buonanno ’24
Kari Buonanno ’24 is a junior from Providence, Rhode Island. On campus, Kari is a member of the women’s lacrosse team and is a Student-Athlete Wellness Leader. Before Princeton, Kari was a member of the Community Action Club at her high school and spent many mornings volunteering at Amos House in South Providence serving meals before school. She also helped coach lacrosse at lower-income schools through Providence After School Alliance (PASA). Kari is excited to be a part of SASC to continue to give back to the community.
Daniella Calabrese ’24
Daniella Calabrese ’24 is a junior on the women’s ice hockey team from Brooklin, Ontario. Before coming to Princeton, she volunteered at local settlement homes to collect and distribute goods to families in need. She also helped organize and run her high school’s Relay For Life events and volunteered at youth hockey camps. As a member of SASC, she is ready to give back and engage with the Princeton community, while also encouraging student-athlete participation in service activities.
SJ Cohen ’24
SJ Cohen ’24 is a junior pole vaulter on the women’s track & field team. Originally from New York, New York, SJ is studying Neuroscience at Princeton. This past summer she volunteered with Baker Industries, a non-profit organization that helps hard-to-employ adults meaningful jobs. Before Princeton, she also organized NYC Armory clinics, tutored high school students and recreationally taught magic tricks to younger children. SJ is excited to bond with other civic-minded student-athletes and see the impact they can have on the Princeton community.
Jack Crockett ’23
Jack Crockett ’23 is the SASC Communications Coordinator and a senior on the men’s lacrosse team. He grew up in Menlo Park, California where he was a service ambassador at his high school and helped organize class service days. Before Princeton, he also worked with the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula and St. Francis of Assisi as a Youth Tutor/Mentor. During the COVID-19 pandemic Jack co-founded a local food donation service to feed families in his community. He is excited to help lead SASC and engage with the local Princeton community to organize impactful service opportunities for each team.
Erica De San Jorge ’25
Erica De San Jorge ’25 is a sophomore women’s rugby player pursuing a degree in Psychology & Entrepreneurship with a certificate in African American Studies. Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland Erica has volunteered at local homeless shelters where she helped clean, sort donations and prepare meals for residents. Each summer she also spends time mentoring youth at the summer camp that she attended as a child. As a SASC member she hopes to inspire and encourage other student-athletes to get more involved in their local community and find joy and empowerment through service.
Samantha DeVito ’24
Samantha DeVito ’24 is a junior Economics major from Ballston Spa, New York. A midfielder on the women’s lacrosse team, Sam has developed a strong passion for working with young athletes. In her free time, she enjoys coaching youth basketball, soccer and lacrosse programs to help kids develop a love for sports. As a varsity athlete, she also serves as a Student-Athlete Wellness Leader and regularly volunteers with the Harlem Lacrosse program alongside her teammates. Sam is looking forward to working with other service-minded student-athletes and helping those in the Princeton community.
Henry Dubiel ’24
Henry Dubiel ’24 will serve as one of this year’s SASC Co-Presidents. A junior from Juno Beach, Florida, he is a member of the men’s golf team majoring in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Before Princeton, he volunteered to help serve meals at the food bank in his local parish, St. Paul of the Cross. On campus, Henry has helped raise money for a military scholarship program called Folds of Honor and has been a regular contributor to “Reading with the Tigers” in addition to many other SASC programs. Henry joined SASC because he wanted to do his part to help better the Princeton community and he is ready to help lead this year’s council in leaving a lasting impact.
Colin Freer ’24
Colin Freer ’24 is a junior on the Princeton men’s lacrosse team. The Westfield, New Jersey native is studying in the School of Public and International Affairs and earning a Certificate in Environmental Studies. Colin has been an active member with the Student-Athlete Wellness Leaders and he was recently named the President of Princeton’s Best Buddies Program. He views SASC as a way to leverage his platform as a Princeton student-athlete and is excited to work with other Tigers on campus to give back to the community.
Jackson Fretty ’24
Jackson Fretty ’24 is a junior golfer from Cos Cob, Connecticut. In high school, Jackson volunteered for four years at a community center in his hometown that distributed food and clothing items to families in need. As a Princeton Tiger, Jackson has continued to volunteer alongside several of his teammates, visiting schools during Reading with the Tigers and collecting holiday gifts for Teams & Toys. New to the SASC council this year, Jackson hopes to take on more service responsibilities as a student-athlete and leave a lasting impact on the Princeton community.
Grace Jackson ’24
Grace Jackson ’24 is a junior from Berwyn, Pennsylvania. On campus, she is a member of the Princeton softball team pursuing a degree from the School of Public and International Affairs. Before Princeton, Grace volunteered with many organizations in her hometown, including the Chester County Food Bank and Project HOME Philadelphia. She now leads the Tiger Sister Program for her team, which connects children in the Princeton area to her teammates as pen pals. Grace is excited to continue her impact on the Princeton community while working with other student-athletes in her new role with SASC.
Mia James ’25
Mia James ’25 is a sophomore defender on the women’s lacrosse team. She came to Princeton from nearby Tinton Falls, New Jersey and is majoring in Environmental Engineering. During high school, Mia served as the President of the Ridge Road Run 5K initiative, which helped bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention. She also led an educational STEM camp for children in her community called Camp Inventions. She is thrilled to be a part of the SASC leadership team and is looking forward to being more active in the Princeton community this school year.
Liam Johnson ’24
Liam Johnson ’24, is a junior linebacker on the Princeton football team studying Politics. The Moorestown, New Jersey native volunteered with the Travis Manion Foundation throughout high school and hosted community clean-ups and food drives in Philadelphia. Liam also has a strong passion for working with children and enjoys coaching youth football clinics in his hometown and volunteering with the Princeton Best Buddies program. He is excited to join the SASC leadership team and hopes to strengthen the culture of service among student-athletes on campus.
Josey Klein ’25
Josey Klein ’25 is a sophomore on the Princeton women’s squash team. The Brooklyn, New York native is still undecided in her major, but is considering a degree in history with a certificate in global health and health policy. Before Princeton Josey volunteered for the Healing Arts Project at her local community hospital and a faith-based organization called BBYO. As a new member of the SASC team, Josey is looking forward to fostering deeper connections with the Princeton community and developing environmentally focused programs.
Ellie Mueller ’24
Ellie Mueller ’24 is a junior on the women’s lacrosse team at Princeton. She grew up in Villanova, Pennsylvania and is pursuing a degree in Economics with a certificate in Finance. On campus, Ellie is an active member of the Athletes in Action club (AIA), Student-Athlete Wellness Leaders (SAWL), and the University Student Government Social Committee. Before Princeton, Ellie was also a member of the Best Buddies club, where she volunteered at Cradles to Crayons in the Philadelphia area, and participated in service projects through Wayne Presbyterian Church. Ellie is excited to be a part of SASC and hopes to engage with local communities in need.
Aria Nagai ’24
Aria Nagai ’24 is a junior on the women’s soccer team from Herndon, Virginia. She is a Computer Science major earning a certificate in Statistics and Machine Learning. Following her freshman year, Aria volunteered in a virtual Coach for College program, sponsored by the PVC, where she developed lesson plans to teach students in rural Vietnam various English and math concepts. Before Princeton, she also coached youth soccer for her hometown soccer club and tutored students in her local school district in writing and math subjects. New to the SASC leadership team, Aria hopes to engage with other student-athletes who are passionate about community service.
Mindy Pang ’23
Mindy Pang ’23 will serve as one of this year’s SASC Co-Presidents. A senior from Greenwich, Connecticut, she is a member of the women’s water polo team pursuing a degree in Psychology and a certificate in Entrepreneurship. Before Princeton, she was involved in service with her local Meals-on-Wheels, and volunteered with several other organizations including the Nathaniel Witherell Nursing Home and Clothes-to-Kids. In high school, she also served as a mentor in a program for middle-school girls, helped children improve foreign language skills through an oral proficiency program, and led an initiative that collected and organized lightly-used textbooks and other educational materials to redistribute to underprivileged students in need. Mindy is thrilled to help lead SASC and bring more service opportunities to the student-athlete community.
Harrison Roberts ’25
Harrison Roberts ’25 is a sophomore forward on the men’s soccer team. He grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts and volunteered with many youth organizations near his hometown before coming to Princeton. Harry recently traveled to Costa Rica for a few months where he taught English in an underserved school and mentored aspiring young students. As a member of SASC, Harry hopes to work with other student-athletes to assist families in the Princeton community that are in need.
Annie Robinson ’23
Annie Robinson ’23 is a senior on the women’s water polo team from Riverside, Connecticut. She is an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major earning a certificate in Global Health. Before Princeton, she volunteered as a NEHSA ski instructor and a Stand By Me Tutor. On campus, she volunteers with CONTACT of Mercer County and serves as a SHARE Peer. Annie joined SASC because she thinks that athletes have a unique ability to influence the community through service and wants to help organize activities to increase service opportunities for Princeton Varsity teams.
Maddie Seltzer ’25
Maddie Seltzer ’25 is a sophomore Sociology major on the women’s swimming and diving team from Scarsdale, New York. In 2022, she traveled to Vietnam to teach underprivileged middle school students as part of the PVC sponsored Coach for College program. Prior to Princeton, she was also the president of her high school Midnight Run Club, where she helped distribute clothes, toiletries, and other items to homeless individuals in NYC. As a member of SASC, she is most excited to share her love of sports with children in the community and provide them with positive role models.
Serena Starks ’23
Serena Starks ’23 is a senior on the women’s softball team from Huntington Beach, California. She is majoring in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and pursuing certificates in Spanish and Asian American studies. In high school, she completed her Girl Scout Gold Award called Team Players, with a goal to incorporate students with special needs into Varsity sports. She held a surfing event, which is now an annual event with over 40 special needs kids having the opportunity to surf at the beach and was able to accommodate those from Down’s Syndrome to CP with quadriplegia. She has been a member of Best Buddies for 5 years, is a community chair on the Disabilities Awareness Board and recently completed an internship with Special Olympics Southern California. As a member of SASC, Serena is passionate about incorporating both the special needs and Princeton student-athlete community into one.
Jalen Travis ’24
Jalen Travis ’24 is a junior offensive lineman on the Princeton football team. He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he co-founded the Just Action Coalition, a non-profit with the mission of providing youth and young adults with the tools to impact change in their communities in the areas of social justice and activism. Since coming to Princeton, Jalen has been active with the PACE Center for Civic Engagement and served on the Student Advisory Board for the Programs for Community Engaged Scholarship. The Legal Anthropology major is a member of the Princeton University Civil Society Cohort, Co-Chair of the Princeton Advocacy and Activism Student Board and Co-Chair of the Minority Pre-Law Association.
Sophie Whiteway ’25
Sophie Whiteway ’25 is a women’s lacrosse player from Potomac, Maryland. The sophomore economics major enjoys giving back to the Princeton community through Athletes in Action (AIA) and the Best Buddies program. Off campus, Sophie also volunteers with the Wildwood, NJ food pantry, Stone Harbor Wetland Institute and One Love Foundation. In high school, she was the President of her Service Club and Support Our Troops Club. As a new member of the SASC leadership team, Sophie is excited to help lead many core programs, including the annual Teams & Toys gift drive and National Girls and Women in Sports clinic.
Ryan Winkler ’24
Ryan Winkler ’24 is a junior on the men’s soccer team from Monroe, Connecticut. Before Princeton, he volunteered at his town’s social service department organizing and helping in a Back to School supplies drive and the Giving Tree, a holiday gift drive. He also was the president of the Interact Club, a group specializing in social service, and participated in Unified Sports playing alongside athletes with disabilities. He joined SASC to give back to the surrounding community, especially to less fortunate people and people with special needs. As a SASC member he hopes he can leverage his platform as a student-athlete to have a greater impact on others’ lives.
