Junior Elizabeth “Gurt” Lynch epitomizes what it means to be a student-athlete at Haverford; successfully balancing life as a dedicated student and a committed, involved member of Haverford’s community.
As a Chemistry major with a biochemistry concentration (pre-med), Gurt plans on going to medical school sometime after graduation. She is also considering first working in a research lab for a year to get additional experience. In the summer of 2013 Gurt worked at Columbia University in a lab studying hematopoietic stem cells under the guidance of two previous Haverford professors: Steve Emerson and Jenni Punt. Lynch will continue her research focusing on the bcl-2 gene there in the summer of 2014.
A member of the women’s basketball team, Gurt played a key role in helping her team win its first Centennial Conference Championship this past season. She explains that she “could not be happier to be a part of such an accomplishment. It was so much fun to be able to host the tournament and to play in front of our peers and teachers. We really appreciate all of the support from Haverford athletics.” Athletics has played a huge part in Gurt’s Haverford experience as it has introduced her to some of her best friends and given her several mentors in her coaches and captains.
Outside of athletics and academics, Gurt is involved with the Joe Schwartz 3K Race. As a member of the race committee she has helped to raise awareness around school and in the community about ALS research and better health as a whole. “This race is very special to me as my good friend and teammate Dominique Meek’s mom passed away from ALS last summer,” explains Lynch, demonstrating her immense commitment to the cause. She is additionally a member of the Class of 2015’s Commencement Committee and looks forward to planning the Senior Party and other events associated with commencement in the future.
Gurt is extremely appreciative of all of the friendships and relationships she’s formed while at Haverford. Gurt shares, “I would not be the student-athlete I am today without the example that was set for me by the basketball girls above me when I was an underclassmen…I [also] want to give a shout out to the biology ladies, Kate Heston, Judy Owen and Jenni Punt, that have supported me through both athletics and academics.”
Truth be told, Gurt perfectly demonstrates what it means to be a student-athlete at Haverford. Her ability to balance the rigors of academics and athletics while maintaining an influential presence on campus displays just how capable and dedicated student athletes are at Haverford.
SAAC is the College’s student-athlete advisory committee which discusses issues that affect the well-being of Haverford’s student-athletes on campus and within the Centennial Conference and the NCAA. For more information, please check out the SAAC website.
~ Sophie Eiger ’14