What is the Salute to Academic Achievement (SAA)?
Salute to Academic Achievement (SAA) is an annual event hosted since 1984 by the President of the University of Illinois System, to honor select high school seniors for their exceptional academic achievements. This year’s event emphasizes outreach to first-generation students as well as students from financially under-resourced communities and low-sending high schools and counties in Illinois.
The 2025 SAA is an invitation-only event. This year’s SAA Program and College Fair will be held at the UIC Dorin Forum at the University of Illinois Chicago. It includes:
A Program to celebrate students’ academic achievements, hear from current Honors Students at our three University of Illinois System universities (Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield), and encourage students to consider attending one of the universities.
A College Fair with college, admissions, financial aid, and housing representatives from the three University of Illinois System universities.
Application Fee Waivers for future applications for admission for each university, for invited students who attend SAA.
An Individualized Certificate of Academic Achievement to honor the state of Illinois’ most talented high school seniors.
Attendees include high school seniors, their parent or adult guest, and high school counselors, as well as University of Illinois leaders and staff.
