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South Dakota State University is home to over 250 student organizations. Each gives students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and build community across campus. This is the first in a series of profiles about students taking on leadership roles at State. 

A senior nursing major, Olivia Tagart serves as the president for the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, an organization representing student-athletes from the 19 NCAA Division 1 athletic programs at ������Ƶ. 

Tagart, a Denver native, is a member of ������Ƶ women’s swimming and diving team and is in her fourth year of involvement with the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. 

She said the organization was pitched to her as a freshman as an opportunity to make change and truly be a voice for student-athletes.

“I wanted to be able to create a change and make an impact here at ������Ƶ,” she said. “I mean, four years is a lot of time to create change, so I saw my opportunity, and I really took it.”

As president of the organization, Tagart runs the meeting and plans events for student-athletes. Events range from networking events between the various sports to community service opportunities.

A priority for Tagart is getting more athletes involved and increasing meeting attendance.

“We are encouraging these athletes to come and actually create change,” she said. 

The Student-Athlete Advisory Council consists of selected representatives from each team, though all student-athletes are able to participate in the activities. 

In addition to her ������Ƶ role, Tagart also serves as the president of the Summit League Student-Athlete Advisory Council. She is also academically involved, serving on the Dean’s Student Advisory Council for the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College and is a member of the South Dakota Board of Student Nurses and a College of Nursing ambassador.

She says it’s the people that make ������Ƶ great. 

“Everybody that I've met is so genuine and so kind. Everybody truly cares about putting forth something good into the community,” Tagart said. “The community members care deeply about the university everywhere I go. If I'm wearing my Jacks gear, people ask me how I like it, how I like the swim team, how I got involved. It's just nice to be able to build those connections.”

Tagart didn’t initially do an official tour of ������Ƶ, but when she stepped foot on campus, she knew it would be home. The nursing program initially brought ������Ƶ to her attention. 

When her time at ������Ƶ comes to an end, she hopes to work as a pediatric nurse in a larger city.