Lizz Winkler, University of Dallas, Women's Lacrosse

LIZZ WINKLER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS, a senior goalkeeper on the women's lacrosse team from St. Charles, Ill., has been selected the SCAC Character & Community Female Student-Athlete of the Week for the week beginning January 13.

The SCAC Character & Community award honors the efforts of student-athletes who excel in the field of athletics, and also serve their campus and community.



This past semester Winkler became a senior class senator for the Student Government at Dallas and decided to focus on student-athlete concerns. Winkler noted that one of the main priorities was getting student-athlete representation on Student Government.

“I noticed a big gap between athletics and academics and the rest of campus life,” Winkler stated. “In the fall, I focused on what can the athletics department do in relation to the school, as well as what can the school especially Student Government do to benefit the athletics department and athletes specifically.” 

Winkler created a survey to get responses from both groups of students on campus and noticed a common answer tied into better communication. Students that were non-athletes wanted better communication to when and where athletic events were, while athletes reflected improvements to tutoring hours and food accessibility that can conflict with practice hours. 

After presenting her results with her fellow senators, the Student Government decided to add the language of adding a student-athlete senator into the redraft of the constitution, which was passed unanimously through the senate. 

“This spring the student body will have to vote on the redraft of the UD Student Constitution, where the new constitution has the language to include an NCAA student athlete senator,” Winkler explained on the resolution by the Student Government. “Starting the first day of spring semester the cafeteria will also be open an extra hour Monday-Thursday to accommodate athletes and student workers.” 

If the constitution passes, then starting in fall 2020 the University of Dallas will be able to have a student-athlete representative on senate. This person will be able to communicate with what Student Government, Campus Board of Activities, and athletics are doing. 

“My short-term goal this spring is to narrow down what the responsibilities of the student-athlete senator would be, as well as communicate with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) how we run elections for this role,” Winkler mentioned. 

She passionately added, “I like a sense of community too much and have friends all over campus in several different departments of activities. I want everyone for UD as a whole to highlight everyone’s strengths and their skills that they have...Ultimate goal as Student Government is to promote a sense of community and help build that community as well.”

Winkler credits being on Student Government this fall and continuing this spring help her learn different aspects of campus and perspectives on topics and activities that go on. 

“I have always had the student-athlete perspective, but now I have the perspective of being a leader on campus.” 

Winkler has lettered three seasons with the UD women’s lacrosse program and is also preparing for her senior campaign. The 2017 MVP of the team also has earned All Independent Women’s Lacrosse School (IWLS) Second Team and was an IWLS Defensive Player of the Week that same season. She has logged 304 career saves over 31 matches and 1,732:46 minutes. 

Winkler is excited to discover the new role for this student-athlete representative and senator and also long-term has a foundation created to last.