Each day Heidi Chicas steps on the lacrosse field or inside the classroom, she honors her parents' example of working hard, having fun, and making a difference for others. 

A proud first-generation college student, Chicas is Salvadoran. Her parents, Marvin and Ana, were born in El Salvador, and they moved to the United States when they were 16. Things weren't always easy for Chicas, but her parents' determination made her stronger and more resilient. Chicas traveled to El Salvador every summer when she was younger. 

My parents sacrificed a lot just to build a better opportunity for our family," Chicas said. I am grateful." 

Now, she's focused on making sure others beat the odds following a life-changing internship this past summer at Stryker in Salt Lake City, where she interned in the neuro-vascular department. 

"For people who suffered ischemic strokes, I helped with building devices that treat brain clots, drain and suck clots out of the brain," Chicas said. "Working in Utah felt like a surreal experience that I knew would help me grow professionally and as a person. Knowing I would be helping people get a second chance at life was also rewarding because it made me feel like I was a part of something bigger than myself." 

Chicas also found the beautiful Utah scenery of snow-capped mountains breathtaking. She spent time hiking, kayaking, and paddleboarding. 

"From my internship, I was able to learn many new skills that will help me throughout my career," Chicas said. "I was also able to experience a new environment and learn more about myself while trying new things. I was grateful for the opportunity. It helped me step out of my comfort zone and discover more of something I might be passionate about." 

Chicas was far from her comfort zone when she started playing lacrosse as a freshman in high school. She wasn't familiar with lacrosse as she had played soccer since third grade and was eyeing a second sport in high school. Chicas was set to play softball – a decision that seemed more realistic after the first day of lacrosse practice. 

"I didn't catch a single ball," Chicas remembered that first practice. "I said, I am never coming back. Why would I play this sport? I am not good at it. I didn't catch one single pass. My friends said, "neither did we, and it will be ok; just stick with it. Ultimately, I fell in love with the sport and continued playing it." 

Now, Chicas can't imagine her life without lacrosse. 

She's a student of the sport, watching as many games as possible. She lived down the street from the University of Maryland. Chicas is one of Howard's leaders on and off the field. The results are irrelevant because Chicas knows she's sowing seeds for the future harvest of Bison lacrosse with her leadership, persistence, and dedication. 

"We're slowly chipping away and building a foundation here to be a top team," Chicas said. "We know it will get better. The talent we have are amazing. It's not about the stats but how you contribute to the team. I know we won't struggle forever. It will make me feel proud when the program wins because I know what I did and what I was here in my time contributed to that, even if it's something as small as implementing a new way to tie our shoes. It's the little things." 

Fluent in Spanish, the bilingual Chicas represents Howard athletics as part of the Grassroots Health program, where she volunteers once a week, speaking to middle school students about the value of mental health. Chicas is also a Spanish tutor and E-board for the Special Olympics club. Chicas serves as the vice president of Phi Sigma Rho, a sorority for women in technical studies. 

"I am honored to be in this position and attend Howard," Chicas said. "Being able to play lacrosse here is special. I can inspire other girls who look like me so they can achieve and be something great. Howard is just as great as any other lacrosse program. I am grateful for the opportunity to play at this level. I owe everything to my parents, who sacrificed for me. They have been tremendously supportive every step of the way. It was their dream for me to do this." 

Rob Knox is an award-winning professional. A member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Hall of Fame, Knox currently serves as the Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by CSC with the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award and the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award. Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Information Directors Association of America (CoSIDA).