KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association will present its SAAC Mentor of the Year award to its 2021-22 recipient this weekend in Kearney, Neb.

Nebraska Kearney’s Kaiti George, RD, LMNT, was named the 2021-22 SAAC Mentor of the Year. MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy will present George with the SAAC Mentor of the Year award on Saturday, September 24, during halftime of the Lopers home football game.

The MIAA SAAC Mentor of the Year is awarded to an individual who has had a profound impact on the lives of student-athletes on campus throughout the year or throughout his/her career.

“There is not a more meaningful award presented by our Association than being recognized as the MIAA’s SAAC Mentor of the Year, as determined by our student-athletes,” said Commissioner Racy. “Congratulations Kaiti and thank you for the work you do and the impact you have made at UNK.”

George has been a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Medical Nutrition Therapist in Kearney since 2003. She spent the 2021-22 academic year meeting with student-athletes in the evenings on campus and hosted nutrition classes for UNK student-athletes at the local Hy-Vee. As the lead dietitian at the Hy-Vee in Kearney, George put aside time outside of her own practice to work with student-athletes. In her nutrition classes, UNK student athletes learned recipes, proper nutrition habits, and discussed their own concerns about nutrition.

Her position with Lopers advanced as she was hired as a professor for the university. George teaches beginning and advanced classe, always making time between classes to talk with student-athletes. George always has an open door in which athletes and students alike can stop in. She provides answers to questions and finds resources.

“We appreciate having Kaiti as a member of our athletic support team because of her extensive knowledge, but even more so for her support and care for the athletes. She is someone we can count on to provide information and create useful solutions all while carrying the most uniquely cheerful attitude. Kaiti has been an important piece to the success of Loper Athletics.”  – Nebraska Kearney SAAC
 

Loper football hosts Central Missouri on Saturday, September 24. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Watch all of Saturday's MIAA football contests live on the MIAA Network.