Hannah Laughlin says she gets bored when she doesn't have enough going on in her life, so she keeps her calendar as loaded as she can.
It's about to get even more full.
The junior softball player, a native of Anderson, Indiana, was nominated by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference and chosen by the NCAA as the league representative on the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Laughlin's term officially begins on Saturday (Jan. 17); she can continue in the role until one year after graduation if she so chooses. She succeeds current Manchester graduate Arturo Casas as the HCAC's national representative.
"Hannah's selection to the national SAAC is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the leader she is every single day," said Griz softball coach Britt Harvey, who is also Franklin's SAAC faculty advisor. "Hannah has a way of elevating every environment she's in — on our team, on campus and within our athletic department — and I have no doubt she will have that same lasting impact at the national level."
The SAAC represents the student-athlete voice within the Division III governance structure by reviewing legislation, identifying significant student-athlete issues, implementing national student-athlete based initiatives, encouraging community outreach and enhancing student-athlete involvement in and understanding of Division III in general. The committee is also responsible for maintaining and coordinating the division's nationwide partnership with Special Olympics. The committee meets in person four times each year (in January, April, July and November) and also conducts teleconferences as needed.
A graduate of Lapel High School, Laughlin came to Franklin because she wanted a small school where she could be involved in more than just softball. She was recruited to both the school and SAAC by former coach Angie Bain, who was the faculty advisor before Harvey.
"(Bain) asked the team who wanted to go to this retreat," Laughlin said, recalling her freshman year, "and me and (
Ruth Kaiser) both said we'd go — and we went, and we loved it."
As Franklin's SAAC secretary, Laughlin takes notes during meetings and gathers information on her peers' needs across different sports, coordinating with athletic administration to help see that those needs are met.
Laughlin attended a pair of leadership retreats as well as last year's national Division III convention in Nashville, Tennessee, and getting a taste there made her seek out a bigger role in the organization. On a national level, SAAC representatives discuss NCAA legislation, potential rules changes and other bigger-picture issues.
"The national people ... got to go to the more important meetings, and I just wanted to do that," she said.
Laughlin has always sought out more ways to keep herself busy. The exercise science major — who hopes to pursue a career in nursing — is the president of Passion for Paws, a Scrubs Club representative and a member of the Exercise Science Club and Disc Golf Club. On the softball field, she has appeared in 21 games over her first two seasons as an infielder and a pinch hitter.
Laughlin says she doesn't know how she manages to balance all of those extracurricular activities, but it beats the alternative.
"I get so bored when I don't have stuff to do," she said.
HCAC assistant commissioner Grace Schott, who oversees SAAC leaguewide, is excited to have Laughlin representing the conference.
"During the two years I've had the pleasure of knowing Hannah, she has consistently demonstrated strong leadership through her involvement in conference SAAC events, and a clear commitment to Division III and what it means to be the Heart of D3."
Likewise, Laughlin is proud to serve as the conference's voice on the national stage.
"I'm definitely really excited to represent the HCAC," Laughlin said. "Franklin has obviously changed my life, so it's exciting to get to give back."
