The San Jose Sports Authority is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the City of San Jose’s economic development, visibility and civic pride through sports. Serving as the City’s sports commission since its inception in 1991, the Sports Authority has provided leadership and support to attract or host hundreds of sporting events in San Jose and the South Bay. The Sports Authority also supports and operates community, youth and amateur sports programs, including the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame and the REACH Youth Scholarship Program.
John Poch | Executive Director
Darren Centi | Director of Events
Chase Lazarus | Event Specialist
SJSA.ORG |
@sjsauthority @sanjosesports
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San Jose Sports Authority BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Victor Arrañaga Jr.* | Hewlett Packard
Jamie Breslin | Stanford University
Andy Dolich * | Dolich Consulting
Charlie Faas*, Chair | Saint Mary’s College
Pam Foley | San Jose City Council, D9
Staci Gustafson | Santa Clara University
Erik Hallgrimson | Cushman Wakefield
James Hamnett* | SAP Center
Rikhi Jain | Stealth
Jeff Konya | San Jose State University
Andrei Losche| Zoom
Matthew Martinucci | Visit San Jose
@sjsauthority
Michael Mulcahy* | San Jose City Council, D6
Lally Narwal | Roku
Jared Shawlee | San Jose Earthquakes
John Southwell* | San Jose Marriott
Larry Stone | Santa Clara County
Dawn Sweatt | Berliner Cohen, LLP.
Dustin Warford | Heritage Bank of Commerce
Anne Warner-Cribbs | BASOC
Aaron Woliczko | West Coast Conference
Geri Wong | Newmark Knight Frank
Blage Zelalich | City of San Jose, OED
* Denotes Executive Committee Members
29th Annual
REACH Youth Scholarship
Awards Breakfast
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Robert Braunstein
Executive Producer and Host of 49ers Cal-Hi Sports
WELCOME
INTRODUCTIONS
Ronnie Lott
NFL Hall of Famer & Philanthropist
Brandi Chastain
FIFA Women’s World Cup & Olympic Champion
SPECIAL GUESTS
The Honorable Mayor Matt Mahan
PRESENTATION OF STUDENT ATHLETES
2025 REACH YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP
AWARDS PRESENTATION
CLOSING REMARKS
Dawn Sweatt, REACH Committee Chair
Video Production by Robert Braunstein, Aubrie Tolliver, Adrian Soriano & Jason Vanderbroek
Event Photography by Terrell Lloyd
For photos and videos of today’s event, please visit www.sjsa.org
ALLAN COLORADO MEDEL
Cross Country, Track & Field
DESTINEE CORONADO
Soccer, Track & Field
ANGEL CUEVAS
Basketball, Tennis, Football
ALIYA DEL ALTO
Soccer
NATHANIEL DUNKLE
Volleyball, Track & Field
After arriving in the U.S., a language barrier caused Allan fears of isolation. Drawing strength from his father and relentless hard work, he rose to excel in AP classes, lead his cross-country team, and discovered his passion for helping others.
Roberto Cruz Leadership Academy
A childhood diagnosis caused fear of losing the game that brought her joy—but soccer never let go. A life-changing moment as honorary captain of the San Jose Earthquakes reignited her spirit, helping her return to the field and reclaim her strength.
Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School
Through the ups and downs of life, sports became his anchor— building confidence, easing unrest, and teaching the value of discipline, teamwork, and leadership. Basketball gave him the space to grow emotionally and turn challenges into motivation.
William C. Overfelt High School
When worry crept into a space that once felt like home— the soccer field—Aliya found herself restless and unsure. With the courage to ask for help, she not only finished her senior season strong but discovered powerful tools to face life’s challenges.
Notre Dame High School
From stitches and surgeries to the sidelines and self-doubt, Nathaniel kept choosing to come back—stronger, smarter, and more determined. He learned that no matter how many times life sidelines you, resilience will always carry you back to the court.
Gilroy High School
EMILIO ESPINOZA CONTRERAS
Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer
From excelling in academics to overcoming the sudden closure of his high school, he’s faced every challenge with grit. Sports remained a constant source of community, helping Emilio build new connections and achieve historic wins at both schools.
DCP El Primero High School
Known for always being one of the most passionate players on the court, Jocelyn’s basketball journey has been fueled by grit and self-belief. She battled through personal traumas and the game remained her source of healing.
Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School
Baseball taught Hunter that failure isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of growth. Through slumps, injury, and emotional setbacks, he developed a powerful work ethic, emotional maturity, and a deep sense of leadership. Valley Christian High School
Thrust into a leadership role with a brand-new team, she struggled with self-confidence—until she transformed uncertainty into action, uniting her teammates through strategy, trust, and heart. Her leadership guided the team into champions. Notre Dame High School
Basketball, Track & Field
After a devastating injury, she faced pain, rejection, and fear—but never gave up. Her story is a powerful testament to resilience: adversity didn’t break her—it built Radhika into a leader, fighter, and dream-chaser. Notre Dame High School RADHIKA
Sports helped Lily discover personal strength. Volleyball taught her that growth comes from effort, and mistakes are just steps on the path to improvement. Now, she faces life’s challenges with the same determination she brings to every game.
Luis Valdez Leadership Academy
Soccer became Leilani’s sanctuary, her confidence-builder, and her calm. When a serious injury took the game away, she faced her greatest challenge yet, but found strength through recovery, coaching, and rediscovering purpose. Henry M. Gunn High School
Basketball
ANNIKA KUROTORI
Soccer, Swimming
ABBIE LEUNG
Cheerleading, Gymnastics
Battling internal struggle, Annika faced each bout with tireless bravery, sports allowed her a peaceful escape to rest and reenergize. She found light in the love of teammates and the power to keep fighting for herself. Prospect High School
Cheerleading provided structure and emotional support, cultivating an organic interest in sports medicine. Inspired by personal experiences and family in healthcare, Abbie is now determined to pursue medicine and help others rebuild their strength.
Wilcox High School
ANDERSON LIN
Badminton
MAITE LOBATO RODRIGUEZ
Swimming, Field Hockey, Flag Football
What began as a dream to be the world’s best badminton player evolved into something far deeper. Through injury, international competition, and family hardships, he transformed his game. Now, each swing of the racket honors the love, sacrifice, and unshakable belief his family has in him. Milpitas High School
After searching for answers to solve personal hardships, she found strength and confidence through swimming. What began as a daily routine transformed into an empowering escape—building her endurance, discipline, and self-love. Wilcox High School
MAYBRI LOPEZ RAMOS
Soccer
Sports became a lifeline for Maybri on her pursuit of understanding her self-worth and unlimited potential. Despite a lack of athletic experience, she showed up, learned, and rose from the bench to become a starter her team relied on. Latino College Prep
Sergio once saw his diagnosis as a barrier—until a tough loss on the court taught him the power of pushing beyond limits. Through intense training and unwavering effort, he transformed his endurance and mindset, proving that hard work can outpace fear.
Luis Valdez Leadership Academy
Tearing an ACL shook her world, pulling her away from the sport she loved and into a battle with unrest and worry. But through the pain and setbacks, she found strength in the same game that once seemed out of reach—rebuilding her confidence, purpose, and academic drive one step at a time. Luis Valdez Leadership Academy
From a first-ever league championships to finding purpose beyond the scoreboard, Juan’s journey has been one of resilience, growth, and heart. Soccer gave him confidence, but it was his community who helped him believe and discover his strength. Downtown College Prep
Balancing academics and soccer wasn’t always easy, but Dafne stayed grounded in her goals: to pass her classes, grow her confidence, and never stop trying. With discipline and self-reflection, she learned to ask for help and find strength in the struggle. William C. Overfelt High School
Cross Country, Basketball, Track & Field
PERLA MADRIGAL Soccer, Softball
Soccer, Cross Country
After a severe field hockey injury, Abby struggled with the emotional toll of being sidelined from the sport she loved. Through perseverance and a positive mindset, she returned to play, strengthened her leadership skills, and ultimately led her team to a championship. Leigh High School
ABBY MICHAELSEN
Field Hockey, Swimming
ALBERTO M. MORA LUGO
Basketball, Volleyball, Track & Field
KELSY MURGUIA LOPEZ
Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Softball
ASHEEKA NORONHA
Soccer
ERNESTO OCHOA
Basketball, Football, Track & Field
FUMIKA ONO
Volleyball, Track & Field
Rigorous coursework and personal adversity cause Alberto to feel burnt out—but everything changed when he found basketball. What began as a distraction became a lifeline, helping him rediscover joy, rebuild confidence, and transform stress into motivation.
Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School
Growing up in a first-generation household, Kelsy used sports as a bridge to belonging. Fueled by her parents’ sacrifices, she now carries the strength, discipline, and pride of a true student-athlete into the next chapter of her life. DCP El Primero High School
A devastating leg injury nearly ended her soccer career and shattered her confidence—but it also sparked her path to innovate. From coaching on crutches to designing free 3D-printed prosthetics for children across the globe, she turned pain into purpose. Saratoga High School
Depsite family trauma, personal sacrifice, and overwhelming adversity, Ernesto rose with heart, grit, and purpose. His journey proves that no matter the odds, greatness is possible when you choose love, never quit, and leave everything on the court.
Andrew P. Hill High School
Volleyball was more than just a sport—it became both a sanctuary and a path to healing. When worry made it difficult to step onto the court, coaching brought purpose back into her life and reminded her why she fell in love with the game. Prospect High School
A torn ACL, academic challenges, and the heartbreaking loss of a loved one all collided at once. Through grit, late night study sessions, and lessons learned through sports, she found her way back—stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever.
Wilcox High School
Despite loss and uncertainty, Madison turned heartbreak and setbacks into opportunities for growth. From organizing a team without a coach to becoming a two-sport captain, she refused to let anything stop her from playing the sports she loved.
DCP El Primero High School
Amid the heartbreak of a family tragedy, Mylie leaned on cheerleading—her sanctuary, her team, her hope. Even in her darkest moments, she rose to lead and inspire, turning personal pain into a legacy of perseverance. Pioneer High School
While adjusting to a new school setting, basketball helped Kaylin find a sense of place. What began as a hesitant step onto the court became an expression of emotion. Basketball gave her freedom and power to rise. Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School
Joining the school soccer team became a turning point for Eddie—igniting confidence, leadership, and pride in historic wins. He balanced academics and athletics, proving to himself that hard work can rewrite what we once thought possible. Downtown College Prep
MADISON SUMPTER
Volleyball, Softball
MYLIE TEJEDA
Cheerleading
KAYLIN TLETLEPANTZILARA Basketball, Volleyball
EDDIE TORIZ FAUSTO Soccer
Now in its 29th year, the REACH Youth Scholarship is a program of the San Jose Sports Authority that recognizes student-athletes who have overcome adversity to excel both academically and athletically. Each spring, the high schools of Santa Clara County are invited to participate in the program by nominating qualified student-athletes for consideration. Since 2017, REACH has awarded more than $450,000 in scholarship funds to hundreds of remarkable student-athletes. The program relies entirely on the generosity of its sponsors and individual contributors for funding.
The San Jose Sports Authority launched the program in 1997 to shine a light on how sports can be a force for good in a young person’s life, especially during difficult times. While each student-athlete’s story is unique, they have in common their experiences with personal pain and hardship as well as resilience and fortitude. Also universal is their love of sport, appreciation of the support of their families, friends, coaches and mentors. Today, the REACH Youth Scholarship Program is an enduring source of inspiration, encouragement and promise for the future.
Thanks to our close proximity to area attractions, you’ll enjoy more than just an amazing stay at the gorgeous San Jose Marriott
With plush accommodations,a relaxing outdoor pool, incredible on-site dining at Coastal Manor, the exciting nightlife at our very own Cobre & Clay, and so much more, you’ll find the perfect interlude to adventure
FINAL NOTES
To the 2025 REACH Youth Scholarship Finalists: Thank you for being a part of this year’s program and sharing your stories with us. We wish you the best!
THANK YOU
2025 PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS
Andrew P. Hill High School
also, to every parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, grandparent, extended family member, school administrator, guidance counselor, teacher, athletic director, coach, mentor, faith leader and friend, as well as anyone not listed here, who serves as a positive influence and role model in the lives of the students of San Jose and Santa Clara County. You inspire us to REACH.
Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School
DCP El Primero High School
Downtown College Prep
Evergreen Valley High School
Gilroy High School
Henry M. Gunn High School
Latino College Prep
Leigh High School
Live Oak High School
Los Altos High School
Los Gatos High School
Luis Valdez Leadership Academy
Milpitas High School
Notre Dame High School
Pioneer High School
Presentation High School
Prospect High School
Roberto Cruz Leadership Academy
Saint Francis High School
Santa Clara High School
Saratoga High School
Valley Christian High School
Wilcox High School
William C. Overfelt High School
