Saturday, May 12, 2007, marked Santa Clara's Student-Athlete Day at Schott Stadium. Student-athletes from all 19 varsity athletic programs participated in a pre-game presentation to celebrate the Broncos' collective athletic achievements over the course of the 2006-2007 academic year.

Prior to the baseball game, and in conjunction with the other Student-Athlete Day festivities, the Bronco Bench Foundation hosted its inaugural All-Sports Barbecue. The Bronco Bench BBQ provided an opportunity for the Santa Clara community to have lunch with Santa Clara's coaches and student-athletes followed by an afternoon of Bronco baseball.

Former rower and former women's crew coach, Stephanie Hamel '98, said, "Not many schools make the effort to integrate student-athletes, coaches and the community in the way in which Santa Clara does. I love coming to these barbecues and meeting Santa Clara's student-athletes. They are great role models and make me proud to be a Bronco."

Alumni and community support for the Broncos is nothing new. Dating back to at least the mid-1930s, members of the Santa Clara community have exhibited tremendous support for Santa Clara's student-athletes. Better known as the "Secret Society of Seven", a group including Victor Corsiglia, Sr., Joe Ecklund, Sam Alaimo and others were among the first groups to get behind Santa Clara's student-athletes. Over the years, other booster groups, such as the Dirty Dozen, have been created to lend support to the programs for which they have felt the greatest affinity. Eventually, in 1962, the Bronco Bench Foundation was formed and has since become the cornerstone of booster support within Santa Clara's Athletic Department for the past 45 years. Today, the Bronco Bench Foundation supports nearly 33 percent of Santa Clara's athletic scholarships and provides a dedicated fan base for all of Santa Clara's 19 varsity athletic programs.

Alumni and families of current student-athletes were not the only ones to have had a great time on Saturday. Kasey Monteith, a senior on the women's basketball team said, "I look forward to talking with alumni, as they have achieved so much and have done very well in the game of life. They have a great deal of wisdom and knowledge about the "real world". We are incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by a community of people who are always so kind and willing to do anything they can for us." As for the student-athlete recognition at the beginning of the baseball game, Monteith said, "I think we're lucky to attend a University where student-athletes are valued and appreciated as much as intercollegiate athletics itself."

Student-Athlete Day and the Bronco Bench All-Sports BBQ are wonderful examples of how community involvement and a commitment to Santa Clara's student-athletes are traditions tightly woven into the fabric of Santa Clara athletics. From the Secret Society of Seven to the Bronco Bench Foundation, to the families that have worked the grills and come to the games over the years, the Santa Clara family is alive and well. So, come out and be a part of the Santa Clara family; come out and be a part of the Santa Clara tradition; come out and be a part of the Bronco Bench Foundation!