THE STORY BEHIND “ELLA”

The story of ELLA begins with Lilly Travieso, who began playing sports at a young age. Over the years, she became passionate about playing softball and dreamed of playing the sport at a top university someday. Lilly embarked on a strenuous mental, physical, and academic journey to achieve her dream. However, along the way, she discovered the many obstacles and disparities faced by Latina athletes culturally and economically.  With the support of her parents, Lilly was accepted to Cornell University, an Ivy League school, on a sports merit.

As a dedicated athlete, she was a starter throughout her time there and proudly graduated in 2024. Currently, she is continuing her athletic career as a graduate student at George Washington University, also a Division 1 institution, where she is pursuing her Master's degree.

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Lilly wants young Latina athletes like herself to have the same opportunities, but mostly, she wants all young female athletes to have the mentorship and support they need as they embark on their own athletic, academic, and professional journey. Lilly and her Mother, Patty, founded Empowering Leadership in Latina Athletes (ELLA) Sports Foundation with a mission to support young Latinas to become leaders of tomorrow through sports and academic excellence.

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ELLA seeks to develop strong Latina leaders that will positively impact their communities while establishing their own legacy. The ELLA network provides young female athletes with opportunities to prepare themselves with college preparatory courses, high quality training, valuable networking, athletic and college mentorship, and exposure to leadership opportunities.