Afshan Kamrudin|
People Feature – Zach Muzzy
Headline: Taking the Lead
Subhead: Zachary Muzzy, UNT student leader and athlete, is the first to attend NCAA Student Leadership Conference
Pull Quote: “It’s something I am really proud of and I’m excited to be part of it.” Zach Muzzy, Business Economics junior

When Disneyland had its grand opening on July 17, 1955, the leader of innovation, Walt Disney, had called it the “Happiest Celebration on Earth.” Thoughts of Disneyland usually follow the imagery of children hugging a giant costumed mouse, of parents taking pictures as a child gets on a ride, family togetherness, like the moments football players have right after winning the Super Bowl. Disneyland also serves as a meeting place for conferences like the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association Leadership Conference to be held this summer at Disney Yacht Beach Club Resort. The conference will be held in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. this summer from May 28 to June 1. The conference was created to recognize leaders at schools with Division I, Division II and Division III athletics.

This year, the University will be represented by Zach Muzzy, the first UNT athlete ever to attend this conference on behalf of the school.

“It’s something I am really proud of, and I’m excited to be part of it,” said the Business Economics junior.

The leadership conference focuses on creating better communication between student athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty, the campus community, and resources outside of the university. Students that take part in this conference are usually members of their campus’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committees, which Muzzy is a part of at UNT.

“I think, for the school, it is important to be recognized at [the NCAA Leadership Conference], because we have never been recognized at this specific event,” Muzzy said. “It is important for North Texas to be recognized and be seen.”

Each year, the conference hosts over 300 students that come to Florida to develop their skills in leadership through problem solving, decision making and communication.

“We will be going through activities that help build leadership as well as activities that will also allow you to display your leadership,” Muzzy said. “We will have an opportunity to meet with business leaders and have fun at the Disney Resorts.”

For Muzzy, meeting with business leaders is key to creating a network of people to work with and to use as future references.

“For me it’s really an honor [to attend this conference], and it is something that will benefit me after graduation,” he said.

Muzzy has sharpened his leadership skills throughout the school year by representing UNT athletics at many campus-wide events, such as Building Better Citizens and Safer Spring Break. Both of these events involved campus awareness and education.

“For those events I was chosen because I feel they believed that I had the dedication and leadership to make sure the athletic department would not be disappointed in the outcome,” Muzzy said. “For the Safer Spring Break Council, Laura Swan and myself put together a presentation with guest speakers on Gambling and Credit Awareness.”  Muzzy has been a leader during his time at UNT. On the field, he is a Mean Green starting wide receiver, a position he is dedicated to.  “I am a very dedicated person,” Muzzy said. “[I am] always reliable and do what I need to get done.”