Illini Student-Athletes Build Leadership, Community at Team IMPACT Fellowship Summit
September 4, 2026 | Swimming & Diving, Volleyball, Academic Services
NEWS
BOSTON – University of Illinois student-athletes Martina Cibulkova (swimming and diving) and Gabby Dean (volleyball) joined nearly 160 student-athletes from across the country at the 2026 Team IMPACT Fellowship Summit in Boston this July.
Cibulkova and Dean were selected as the Fighting Illini's 2026-27 Team IMPACT fellows and will serve as ambassadors for the organization throughout the year. Their participation in the fellowship also builds on Illinois Athletics' broader partnership with Team IMPACT, which connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams and creates opportunities for children and their families to become part of a team community.
Currently, five Fighting Illini teams have been matched with Team IMPACT children, including Cibulkova and Dean's own teams. Across Illinois Athletics, those relationships have created meaningful connections between student-athletes, children, and their families by welcoming matched children into their team communities and creating a sense of belonging.
The three-day Fellowship Summit brought together Team IMPACT fellows from all three NCAA divisions to deepen their understanding of the organization's mission and prepare them to expand its impact on their campuses. Throughout the experience, Cibulkova and Dean participated in sessions focused on advocacy, leadership, professional development, and campus planning while connecting with other student-athletes committed to service and community.
For Cibulkova, the experience was especially meaningful because of the people and families at the center of Team IMPACT's mission.
"Inspiring, fulfilling, and driven" were the three words she used to describe the Summit. Hearing directly from Team IMPACT families and children who have been matched with college teams gave her a deeper understanding of the impact those relationships can have.
"You do all these things believing they positively affect these kids, but seeing is different than believing," Cibulkova said. "To hear from them directly is something I will cherish for a long time."
The Summit also helped Cibulkova better understand her role as a fellow and the responsibility she and Dean will have in bringing Team IMPACT's mission back to Illinois.
"I have learned that my role is not only to embody these beliefs but also promote them and get as many people interested as possible," Cibulkova said. "Small acts of kindness will make others feel like they belong."
Dean similarly left the Summit with a stronger understanding of the importance Team IMPACT has among children, families, student-athletes, and teams. She described the experience as "impactful, grateful, and inspiring" and valued the opportunity to connect with student-athletes from across the country while learning more about the role fellows can play on their campuses.
For Dean, one of the biggest takeaways was recognizing how student-athletes can use their platform beyond competition to make a meaningful impact in their communities.
As Cibulkova and Dean begin their fellowship year, they hope to increase awareness of Team IMPACT among Fighting Illini student-athletes, encourage more teams to become involved, and create additional opportunities for student-athletes to serve and make an impact beyond competition.
One of their first initiatives will be Illinois' participation in Team IMPACT's national All In! 5K fundraiser. Colleges and universities across the country take part in the event in ways that best fit their campus communities. Fans and supporters can learn more and donate in support of the Team Impact All In! 5K at https://www.teamimpact.org/events/allin5k/.
