The primary motivation for this study was to formatively evaluate the Student-Advisory Council (SAC) for the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). Specifically this study was designed to address four purposes: (1) to chronicle and evaluate the tasks and activities (actual and idealized) of the MHSAA SAC; (2) to evaluate the perceived organizational benefits of the SAC to the MHSAA and its executive staff and administration; (3) to investigate the perceived personal development gain or sense of empowerment experienced by the student-athletes; (4) to investigate the experience of being evaluated. These purposes were addressed through a two phase approach. Phase 1 was designed to address purposes 1 and 2. Four adult stakeholders were interviewed about the creation and purpose of the SAC as well as the perceived organizational (MHSAA) benefit of sponsoring the SAC program. Fourteen student-athlete members of the SAC were also interview in two focus groups and asked to explore the same phenomena. Phase 2 was designed to address purposes 3 and 4. Through the second phase, the evaluator interviewed two of the adult stakeholders and all 14 of the focus group participants individually to discuss the findings from Phase 1, the perceived sense of development experienced by the student-athlete members, and the perception of being evaluated. Phase 1 data revealed three goals of the SAC: (1) to gain a student's perspective on high school sports and present issues facing the MHSAA; (2) to promote the values of the MHSAA, both `to' and `through' students; (3) to provide an environment for student-athlete leaders to become exceptional leaders. Additionally a logic model describing the purpose and functioning of the SAC was created and presented back to the stakeholder. Phase 2 revealed that the SAC experience changed the student-athlete participants through increasing their social skills and confidence in their leadership. Additionally, student-athlete members reported feeling empowered over aspects of the SAC program, while also feeling somewhat undervalued by the MHSAA. The experience of participating in the evaluation was overall a positive and reflective experience.
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