RIO GRANDE VALLEY – Ingridy Nicoleti Foltran is always intent on representing and inspiring as a student-athlete at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). 
 
From her role on the volleyball team, bringing positive energy and consistency to the program, to her Instagram account with over 62,000 followers where she shares motivating content from the court to the classroom, Foltran displays leadership. 
 
Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services Julia Perez is one of many to take notice of Foltran's potential, so she nominated the junior member of the UTRGV Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as a candidate to represent the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) at the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum. WAC Commissioner Brian Thornton then chose Foltran, along with swimmer Atu Ambala from Grand Canyon and Jessica Radford, the WAC Assistant Director of Communications, to represent the WAC at the forum. 
 
"When I was informed that I had been chosen for the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, I felt incredibly honored," Foltran said. "This was an important moment for me that marked the recognition of my contributions as a student-athlete and leader. I was very proud to have been selected and it strengthened my dedication to the perseverance and excellence that defines student-athletes. It was not only a personal accomplishment, but also a responsibility to represent UTRGV and the conference well." 
 
Foltran spent April 11-14 in Bethesda, Maryland along with over 230 student-athletes, administrators and coaches learning a number of valuable lessons. She went through four days of programming organized by the NCAA leadership development staff meant to help attendees develop emotional intelligence, embrace vulnerability and grow their networks while developing leadership skills. 
 
This year's program was themed "Light the Torch" as a nod to the upcoming Olympics and to inspire attendees "to come together, celebrate one another and then leave ready to apply and share the lessons learned on their campuses and out in the world." The theme resonated with Foltran and encouraged her to get out of her comfort zone and truly buy into the experience. 
 
"The theme's concept of spreading happiness and inspiration captures the core of the leadership style I strive for: humility, service and empowerment," Foltran said. "Throughout the event, I gained insights into the challenges and opportunities of being a student-athlete. Balancing academics, athletics and personal growth requires dedication, resilience and a strong sense of purpose. The forum reinforced the notion that, as student-athletes, we are not just individuals. We are a light which can inspire and uplift others through our actions and achievements." 
 
Attendees were split into color-assigned small groups, each with roughly 30 participants and two trained facilitators. They completed a series of workshops, listened to keynote speakers, sat in on governance sessions, participated in a community service event, and attended well-being sessions. 
 
A large part of the development was for the participants to gain a deeper understanding of their core values. Foltran chose faith, family and personal growth as her core values. As she went through the four days of programming with her fellows in the purple group, the outside hitter was able reinforce her passion for leadership, service and making a positive impact. 
 
"Faith has been a guiding force in my life, providing me with strength and direction through God," Foltran said when explaining her core values. "My mother has been my unwavering support system, inspiring me to strive for excellence every day. Personal growth is an ongoing journey for me. I am committed to continuous learning and improvement, aiming to be 1% better each day." 
 
The forum, which Foltran called a "transformative experience," taught her many lessons about inspiring and empowering others in her community and beyond, which has long been a goal for the Osasco, São Paulo, Brazil native.
 
Foltran is a civil engineering student and serves as the president of Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society at UTRGV. She said one of the most significant takeaways from the forum was "the importance of self-awareness in order to be an effective leader wherever you go," and she'll apply that as she strives to make a difference in her role. 
 
Foltran was able to help her groupmates gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by international student-athletes as the only non-domestic and non-native English speaker on her team. It wasn't always easy for her, but she pushed herself "to be comfortable being uncomfortable" and was open and vulnerable with the group. Her contributions to the group were just as significant as what she was able to take from her newfound friends. 
 
There's one quote from the forum which struck Foltran particularly strongly: Legacy is not leaving something behind for other people; it's leaving something behind in other people. 
 
Foltran said she has already discussed her experience at the forum with Perez, who coordinates Life Skills sessions for UTRGV student-athletes. She wants to share the insights she gained with other Vaqueros and she's starting with her volleyball teammates. With one year left on campus and a consistently growing community on social media looking up to her, Foltran is committed to making a difference and is grateful for the opportunity to attend the leadership forum to help her do just that.  
 
"I find great joy in using my Instagram to share my journey as an international student-athlete to encourage others to pursue their goals as I am doing. I am going to be a senior, and I want to be remembered for having a positive impact on others," Foltran said. "I am grateful for my coach, Todd Lowery, for providing me with the opportunity to be here and accomplish my dream. I am also grateful to my teammates and the UTRGV Athletics staff for their support and belief in my potential. The experience of meeting and collaborating with student-athletes and staff members from diverse backgrounds during the forum reinforced the importance of teamwork, effective communication and continuous self-improvement to achieve my personal and collective goals." 

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