Illinois senior Abby Lynch, a dual-sport athlete with Illini Soccer and Track and Field, has taken her leadership to the next level after being selected to serve as the Big Ten Conference's representative on the NCAA's Division-I National SAAC.
"It is a great honor to serve on the Division 1 National SAAC as the Big Ten representative," Lynch said. "The Big Ten is a group of incredible student-athletes, and I want to ensure that their voices are heard. I want to be a resource for each campus in the Big Ten, and I will do everything in my power to provide resolutions to the issues and questions they are facing. I want there to be an open communication between me and each of the campus SAAC groups within the Big Ten."
After first getting involved with SAAC as a second-semester freshman and then being named an at-large member of the Illinois SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Council) as a sophomore, Lynch continued to work and knew she wanted to become even more involved.
"I knew some of my teammates were involved with it, and it sounded like a really exciting opportunity to get involved within the athletic department and meet other student-athletes. I went to a meeting just as a guest, and I really enjoyed it, so I applied to be on SAAC for the following school year."
The Brownsburg, Indiana, native has worked her way up to being the vice president of SAAC as a junior and eventually becoming the Illini's SAAC president and the chair to the Big Ten's Student-Athlete Issues Commission as a senior. Now, she has added yet another prestigious honor to her already-impressive resume as the conference's spokesperson for the Division-I National SAAC.
"I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have been given because of my involvement within SAAC," Lynch said. "My experience on SAAC has positively influenced my experience as a student-athlete. I have built close relationships with Illinois student-athletes, athletic staff, and the community. I have found a group of people on campus that support and appreciate me. I have been able to participate in some incredible events that have impacted both my personal and professional development."
Whether it's working with the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging committee or the student-athlete welfare group, Lynch says her wide range of experiences has been incredibly rewarding, and she encourages all student-athletes to get involved on their local campuses.
"Raising your hand and saying 'yes' is a great way to put yourself out there and take advantage of all that college has to offer, and this is especially true with SAAC," Lynch said. "Your voice is so important, and your experience matters. The great thing about SAAC is that almost everything is a conversation. If you or your teammates are facing questions or issues that you can't quite resolve, you can bring them to SAAC, and we will do our best to provide you with answers. If you are looking for an opportunity to get more involved within the athletic department and meet more student-athletes, then I would seriously recommend getting involved with SAAC.
"My favorite part about serving on SAAC has been forming relationships with other student-athletes at Illinois. The student-athlete community at Illinois is so supportive of each other, and it's so nice to have a group of people that can relate to your day-to-day highs and lows. I really cannot recommend it enough."
