Friday, April 1, 2016

Part of a regular series.

Throughout the year, GNACsports.com uses this space to profile conference student-athletes who are members of their respective institutions' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In addition to providing feedback on the student-athlete experience, conference and institutional SAAC members also offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses. Click here for more information on the function of SAAC at the NCAA level.

Name: Hannah Lemm
School: Seattle Pacific University
Sport: Women's soccer
Year: Junior
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Lynnwood WA

Extracurricular activities: Volunteering at the local Boys & Girls Club, playing intramural sports and reading.

Why did you choose to attend Seattle Pacific? I chose SPU because it was in the same state that I grew up in, the soccer program is very prestigious and there are small class sizes, which appealed to me.

What is your favorite class you have taken in college and why? Microbiology because I learned about more than 80 different diseases and how they cause problems in the body. I found it fascinating and applicable to my future profession.

Who is your favorite professor you've had in college and what did you enjoy about learning from him or her? My favorite professor so far would be my nursing theory professor, Carol McFarland, because she is the most passionate and caring professor I've ever met. She genuinely cares about you and your success and is very involved with all of the nursing students.

Years involved in SAAC: Three.

The reason I chose to get involved in SAAC: I saw this as a leadership opportunity and a way to connect the student body and athletes together in a more unified way.

What is the most important thing you've learned from balancing the demands of athletics and academics? I've learned that without sports, I wouldn't be able to balance school and my priorities well. By playing a sport, it makes you prioritize your work and get it done in the little amount of time that you have.

What does it mean to be a Division II student-athlete? It means that you're dedicated to your studies as well as continuing to grow in your sport of choice. It means that you're stressed, but are willing to go through it because of the love of the game.

Current mentor(s): Nursing faculty, my friends and Arden Matro.

Future goals after school: To become a registered nurse.

Biggest obstacle overcame during collegiate career: My second ACL reconstruction as well as a meniscus repair and micro-fracture surgery.

Best advice I’d give to an incoming freshman: Take time to appreciate what you're doing now, because it will fly by. You only have 4 seasons, so make the best of it!

Favorite sports team: FC Barcelona

Favorite athlete: Too many to choose from!

Most memorable sports-related moment: My freshman year when we beat WWU in the GNAC final to advance to the NCAA tournament. We went into penalty kicks and our goalkeeper made a few amazing saves. We all ran onto the field and it was such a rush!

One thing that people don't know about me is: I'm heavily involved in Make-A-Wish.