CHAMPS/Life Skills
Implemented in NCAA institutions in 1994, the CHAMPS/Life Skills program was created to improve and enhance the student-athlete experience within their selected university. The program was founded at Wake Forest University in 1995.

The CHAMPS/Life Skills program has five commitments for the establishment of a well-rounded student-athlete. Those commitments include academics, athletics, career development, personal development, and community service. It is through those five areas that the program works to develop not only quality student-athletes, but also exceptional individuals.

A student-athlete advisory council leads our program with membership from each varsity athletic team. All members serve on one of four committees: Personal Development, Community Service, Academic and Career Development, or Publicity to develop programs for the benefit of all student-athletes.

Athletes Care Team
Founded in 1991, the Athletes Care Team is the anchor of the leadership and community service commitment of the CHAMPS/Life Skills program. The Athletes Care Team has many facets of its program, however, the main goal of the program is for student-athletes to reach out to the youth in our area and in the process build a sense of community, self-awareness, self-esteem, and leadership skills that cannot be learned in a classroom.

Student-athletes typically volunteer 2,500 hours of service to the community each year through our tutoring program, Speaker's Bureau, Eat with the Deacs, Coach's Kids, Santa's Helpers, Special Olympics, and other special events. Approximately three out of five student-athletes contributes their time to impacting the lives of Winston-Salem youth.

For the last ten years, student-athletes have volunteered one hour a week each semester to become a friend and a mentor to local elementary school students. Student-athletes also participate in nighttime tutoring at a local recreation center and volunteer at a school for disabled children.

Student-athletes speak to young students throughout the Winston-Salem community as part of the Speaker's Bureau. The four points of success that our student-athletes stress when they speak are hard work, education, goal setting, and staying drug and alcohol free. All athletes have had to overcome obstacles in order to achieve the success they currently enjoy. Whether that obstacle was an academic difficulty, injury, personal obstacle, or other setback or uncertainty the lessons a student-athlete can instill in a young person aspiring to become a successful individual will not be forgotten. However, it is not only the children that gain from the student-athletes, but also the student-athlete who grows as a human being.

Eat with the Deacs, which began in 1997 brings youth groups on campus for a brief tour and if possible the chance to watch a team practice. Most importantly, the children are invited to eat, meet, and interact with student-athletes over a meal.

Through the generosity of donors, youth are invited to attend numerous Wake Forest athletic events. "Coach's Kids" gives many Winston-Salem youth the opportunity to see numerous Wake Forest football, men's and women's basketball, and other olympic sporting events.

Chip Rives, a Wake Forest football player from 1984-1987, founded The Santa's Helpers program in 1986 on his own and ran it from the back of his Volkswagon van. Today, the program flourishes reaching over 300 families and 1000 children in the community. As an athletic department supported program, numerous student-athletes (most of whom dress up as Santa), coaches, administrators, Deacon Club members, and friends of Wake Forest volunteer their time to wrap and distribute thousands of presents each December.

Student-Athlete Advisory Council
The Student-Athlete Advisory Council is a representative body of every varsity sport at Wake Forest University. Each team is guaranteed two seats on the Council, except for football that is allowed three representatives. The Council is governed by a Constitution and is student-athlete led. The Council has four active committees that plan activities, seminars, speakers, and other events of the benefit of all student-athletes.

The Academic and Career Development Committee serves as a liaison between Academic Services, Career Services, and Wake Forest student-athletes. The Community Service Committee implements and guides programs created to bring together Wake Forest student-athletes and the Winston-Salem community. The Personal Development Committee is responsible for suggesting programs and seminars designed to address life issues inside and outside the realm of athletics. The Publicity Committee serves as a liaison between the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and all Wake Forest student-athletes. They are also responsible for publicizing special events and activities of the Athletes Care Team and the Student-Athlete Advisory Council to the Media Relations Department, The Old Gold and Black, and local media outlets.