PORTLAND, Ore. - On Tuesday, Jan. 30, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced Aila Berrigan as the next GNAC Student-Athlete Advising Committee (SAAC) President. 

The Student-Athlete Advising Committee is a leadership committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. The SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses. Berrigan, a junior on the Nanooks women's ski team, is excited to elevate the voices not only in Fairbanks, but around the GNAC as a whole, "I can't wait to continue working with all of the other amazing GNAC representatives who will undoubtedly help bring a student-athlete voice to the GNAC and Division II athletics." 

As the GNAC SAAC President, Berrigan will be responsible for orchestrating bi-monthly SAAC meetings while facilitating the collaboration and communication among student-athletes throughout the conference. Her role extends to overseeing GNAC conference SAAC committees and playing a pivotal part in advancing DII SAAC initiatives focused on the '3 E's'; empower, empathize and enhance. This entails empowering student-athletes by providing resources, empathizing with their concerns and enhancing their voice and overall experience within the athletic community. Additionally, Berrigan serves on the SAAC Education Committee, actively engaging in efforts to educate institutions on the role SAAC plays and advocating for the significance of the student-athlete voice in shaping the collegiate athletic landscape. This position is an opportunity to lead and make a lasting impact on the student-athlete experience within the GNAC conference. 

She becomes the second-ever Nanooks student-athlete to hold this title through the GNAC SAAC. The first, and last, was Lexie Black of the women's basketball program, who held the title of GNAC SAAC Chair in 2006-07. 

Berrigan is in her second year with SAAC and currently serves as the Alaska Nanooks' SAAC Vice President. The President of SAAC for the Alaska Nanooks, Adeline Berry, had this to say on Berrigan's election as GNAC SAAC President, "I am more than excited to see Aila as our new GNAC SAAC President! Her dedication to the Nanooks SAAC has been outstanding, and I have been honored to work with her as my Vice President. She has been one of the strongest advocates for all of the student-athletes here at UAF and her leadership will undoubtedly inspire and promote the conference to greater heights." 

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