KADEN MCFARLAND OF AUSTIN COLLEGE, a senior on the football team from The Colony, Texas, has been selected the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Character and Community Male Student Athlete of the Week for the week beginning February 23.
The SCAC Character & Community award honors the efforts of student-athletes who excel in the field of athletics, and also serve their campus and community.
A four-year veteran of the ’Roos defensive line, McFarland has balanced the demands of collegiate athletics with a deep commitment to local youth. He has devoted more than 180 hours of his time to student teaching at schools in the area, investing heavily in the education and development of young students. This dedication to mentorship aligns with his past community efforts, which include assisting with youth leadership programs at his church.
As a prominent voice among his peers, McFarland has been a driving force in student-athlete governance. He has served as a dedicated member of the Austin College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and stepped up as the group’s co-president this year.
Under his leadership, the Austin College SAAC successfully organized and executed a local school supply drive to support area classrooms. Additionally, McFarland has spearheaded fundraising efforts for the SCAC’s Change for the Better Initiative. This year, those efforts directly benefited the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness, protecting emotional health, and preventing suicide among teens and young adults.
McFarland’s leadership footprint extends well beyond the local campus. Through his involvement with the SCAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, he was selected to attend this year's NCAA National Convention in Washington, D.C. McFarland utilized the convention to advocate for student-athlete welfare while networking with peers and college athletics administrators from across the country.
