Student Advisory Board members work alongside Buccaneer players and staff members at community events
During the past week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been surveying talent in a new location: high school. Interviews have been conducted, resumes reviewed and statistics considered on some of the most impressive young talent in the Greater Tampa Bay area.
Say it isn't so!
Relax, doomsayers. The Maurice Clarett ruling stands and NFL teams are no closer to sending their scouts to prep school fields than before, thank goodness.
That being said, the Buccaneers are definitely interested in recruiting outstanding young men and women from surrounding schools to become involved in the organization. For the sixth consecutive year, the team has formed the Buccaneers Student Advisory Board, bringing together the best and the brightest of the Bay area for a shared experience that brings year-long benefits to the team, the students and the community.
The Student Advisory Board (SAB) was first put together by the Buccaneers' community relations department during the 1999 offseason, and it has since become an integral part of the team's community outreach efforts. Every year, the SAB unites 40 highly-motivated high school students into a cohesive unit that performs community service projects, fosters Buccaneer spirit in area high schools and develops leadership skills in preparation for continuing education.
The complete list of the students who comprise the 2004 Buccaneers Student Advisory Board is below.
The incoming SAB includes students from 31 Hernando, Hillsborough, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk county schools. The chance to meet other high school students from around the Bay area is one of the main attractions of the Board. Of course, the student representatives are also hands-on participants in many Buccaneer community service projects, where they have the opportunity to work side-by-side with Tampa Bay players and staff members.
For example, during the 2003-2004 incarnation of the SAB, board members participated in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Women's Organization Fall Festival, the Thanksgiving Gift Basket distribution at Metropolitan Ministries, Susan B. Komen's Race for the Cure and several other events.
In their own high schools, SAB Members serve as liaisons between the Buccaneers and their fellow students. Members are provided with team promotional items to distribute to other fans in their schools. Among the items handed out by the SAB last year were key chains, notepads, team photos, window clings and Buccaneers and NFL schedule cards.
All SAB members are also required to work at Buccaneers home games and to attend the home games in which they are not working. At each game, half of the council members work as customer service representatives in the East and West Club Lounges of Raymond James Stadium while the rest of the members relax and enjoy the action.
The SAB holds monthly meetings in a variety of locations, which last year included the press box at Raymond James Stadium, the locker room at One Buc Place, the East Club Level of the stadium, the Pirate Ship in the north end zone and the practice field at team headquarters. Through their interactions with the team, Board Members get a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of a professional football team.
A tour on the SAB also provides Board Members with a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of a professional football team. They get to share in the professional and personal wisdom of successful men and women in the sports industry, as the SAB members are often given presentations by Buccaneer staff members.
Despite all these side benefits, the primary goal of the Buccaneers Student Advisory Board remains giving back to the community and developing the leaders of tomorrow.
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Introducing the 2004-2005 Buccaneers Student Advisory Board:
| **Name** | **Grade** | **High School** |
| Amanda Allen | Senior | Zephyrhills |
| Tristin Ballentine | Senior | Calvary Christian |
| Justin Bauford | Junior | Gibbs |
| Lauren Buffington | Senior | Wharton |
| Morgan Butler | Junior | Keswick Christian |
| Carolyn Clapsis | Senior | Hernando |
| Christopher Copeland | Senior | Hillsborough |
| Sam Craparo | Junior | Plant |
| David Creamer | Junior | East Lake |
| Patricia DesRoberts | Sophomore | River Ridge |
| Brenna Eagan | Junior | Boone |
| Emily Fortune | Senior | King |
| Chris Foskey | Junior | Lake Region |
| Gustavo Gari | Junior | Jesuit |
| Helen Heuer | Junior | Hillsborough |
| James Kirk IV | Senior | Mitchell |
| Rohini Komarla | Junior | King |
| Samantha Loori | Senior | Boca Ciega |
| Kristin Lubrano | Senior | Academy of Holy Names |
| Kara Manelli | Senior | Plant |
| Sarah Nelson | Senior | Gaither |
| Enibokun Osayawe | Senior | Hillsborough |
| Jason Patel | Sophomore | Palm Harbor University |
| Jasmine Roe | Senior | Blake |
| Alexandra Rotenstein | Junior | Wharton |
| Jessica Scharf | Sophomore | Clearwater Central Catholic |
| Kendell Schwabe | Sophomore | Newsome |
| Daniel Schwartz | Sophomore | Hillsborough |
| Savan Shah | Sophomore | St. Petersburg |
| Jennifer Sicilio | Sophomore | Armwood |
| A.J. Sikes | Senior | Wesley Chapel |
| Natasha Stewart | Sophomore | Durant |
| Dana Turker | Junior | Berkeley Preparatory |
| Chris Wagner | Senior | Tampa Catholic |
| Allison Wallrapp | Junior | Academy of Holy Names |
| Joseph Walters | Sophomore | Freedom |
| Russel Weich | Junior | Land O'Lakes |
| Brad Weller | Senior | Countryside |
| Brandi Wyskocil | Junior | King |
| Katie Zayas | Junior | Tampa Catholic |
