POINT CLEAR, Ala. -- UT Arlington student-athletes claimed a pair of significant awards from the Sun Belt Conference Thursday at the league's annual Spring Meetings.

For the first time in league history, UTA claimed both the Sun Belt Conference Community Service Initiative Award and the Community Impact Award. Spearheaded by the UTA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the Mavericks have won the Community Service Award in each of the last three seasons.

In addition to the league presenting various end-of-the year awards and recognitions, conference athletic directors, senior woman administrators, football coaches, men and women's basketball coaches and student-athlete leaders took part in a Thursday morning mental health summit.

The session provided information that helped better educate the group on issues related to mental health, best practices, recommendations and educational efforts that support and promote the health and safety of college athletes.

Sports Psychologist Dr. Shawn Zeplin, Psy.D. led the program which also included topics on mental pressure to perform, trying to perform through injury, life after being a student-athlete, signs of mental health issues, relationship issues, body image issues, test taking and study problems and other items related more specifically to sports psychology.

Sun Belt Community Impact Award
The Community Impact Award is designed to recognize the impact student-athletes have in their local communities. Each institution was charged with getting involved in through a community impact activity.

At the end of the academic year, each campus SAAC is responsible for submitting one community event to the league office.

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