By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University student-athletes Tenley Grant from women's track and field and Abbey Staniec (So., Stockton, CA/Lincoln HS) from women's triathlon and women's swimming have been elected to the 2024-25 Northwest Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Executive Board. The NWC SAAC provides a connection between student-athletes in the conference and the NWC Office, coaching groups, and the NCAA.

Grant will be the NWC SAAC president. Staniec will serve as the NWC SAAC initiatives coordinator.

"Being elected means so much to me," Grant said. "I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to be put in a leadership role where I get to learn more about other campuses and the NCAA. I hope that I will be able to continue the work that the NWC SAAC has been doing and also bring something new to my role."

As the new president of the NWC SAAC, Grant will be significantly involved in determining which projects the group will develop during the next academic year.

"I hope to be able to work more on outreach opportunities, help advocate for student-athletes' mental health, and being able to show how amazing it is to be a D3 athlete!",Grant commented.

Grant will lead the NWC SAAC Executive Board, but she will be working toward a process where all of the board members will participate and help create plans for the organization.

"As president, I will preside over all meetings of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and work directly with the advisor," Grant asserted. "I also will work closely with the other SAAC executive members on current issues, NWC rules, NCAA legislation, and projects. I will work with all of the NWC SAAC representatives and get to hear what the other colleges are doing on their campuses and how we can support one another."

Staniec also takes on a new role by joining the NWC SAAC Executive Board.

"I joined Willamette SAAC at the beginning of this year and I have loved being more involved in Willamette Athletics," Staniec noted. "I wanted to jump on the opportunity to be more diversely involved. It means a lot to me to be allowed to be a part of the NWC in a more profound way as next year's initiative coordinator.

"Being a part of two athletic teams here at Willamette, I spend a lot of time sharing information and ideas between teams to create the best athletic environment for everyone," Staniec said. "I am excited to be able to use these skills to share information from the NCAA throughout the NWC."

The initiative coordinator helps develop programs sponsored by the NCAA. The job also involves setting up relationships with other outside groups.

"As initiative coordinator, I will help spread information about NCAA programs to individual Student-Athlete Advisory Committees in the NWC," Staniec said. "For example, I will support schools in our conference in getting the information needed to build programs like Special Olympics and One Love at their schools."

NCAA Division III has a long-standing relationship with the Special Olympics. At Willamette, the Bearcats have worked with Special Olympics Oregon.