Stanford soccer standout Andrea Kitahata is being honored with the CalHOPE Courage Award for her vulnerability, resilience, and leadership in her mental health journey while excelling at the highest levels of collegiate soccer.

A redshirt senior forward and team captain, Andrea stood out as a top prospect for professional play. However, in fall 2022, the tragic loss of her close friend and teammate triggered a profound emotional upheaval. After just six games into her sophomore season, Andrea made the courageous choice to step away from soccer to focus on her well-being and mental health recovery.

Her return in 2023 marked a powerful comeback: she participated in all 25 matches and earned All-Pac-12 second team honors, reinforcing that mental strength and athletic excellence go hand in hand. Last season, she was just as impactful, scoring 9 goals and adding 6 assists in 22 games. Choosing her mental health over early professional opportunities, including offers from the National Women’s Soccer League and interest from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Women’s Champions League, Andrea chose to stay at Stanford this year for her fifth season, continuing both her play and advocacy.  Through 11 games this season, she’s recorded seven goals and added six assists for the #4 ranked Cardinal.

“Working through the grief of losing someone, who was part of my daily routine and suddenly disappeared, took everything out of me,” said Andrea. “Feeling the pressure of playing time, starting spots, and my career, I wanted nothing more than to push my emotions down and be on the field. As an athlete, you’re taught to muscle through pain. It took me six months to realize that this pain meant that I was not on the right track.”

Off the pitch, Andrea has become a powerful voice for mental health awareness, co-creating the documentary, It’s Time We Talk About It, advocating on national television, supporting the Katie’s Save foundation, and mentoring young female athletes through Female Footballers.

Mt. San Antonio College baseball player Jackson Giacone is being honored with the CalHOPE Courage Award for his extraordinary resilience in the face of life-altering adversity.

A standout athlete from Eureka High School, Jackson realized his lifelong dream in 2022 when he earned a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton, one of the nation’s premier college baseball programs. Just days into his freshman season, he looked ready to make an impact, hitting a triple and a home run in an intrasquad series, before his world suddenly changed.

Jackson suffered a freak accident in the batting cages that crushed his C5 vertebrae and fractured his C4-C6, leaving him temporarily paralyzed from the neck down. Although the paralysis was temporary, nobody knew how much it would impact his baseball career going forward.

He underwent two major surgeries to repair and stabilize his spine, spending nearly two weeks in the U.C. Irvine trauma center, fighting through complications like blood clots and unstable blood pressure. The physical challenge was immense, but the mental toll of having his dream ripped away so suddenly was even greater.

Through it all, Jackson refused to give up. He leaned on his family, teammates, and coaches, learning the importance of asking for and accepting help. Just 15 days after his accident, he walked back onto the field to stand with his team. Four months later, he was throwing again; by the next summer, he was back playing competitive baseball.

After transferring last year to Mt. San Antonio College for a fresh start, Jackson played in 48 of their 51 games at outfield and third base, posting a .237 batting average with 2 home runs, 32 runs batted in, 28 runs scored, and 9 stolen bases. He capped off his remarkable comeback with a 3-5 performance at the plate in the championship game and helped lead the Mounties to their first state championship in 60 years.

“There were days when it was hard to not be on the field. The physical pain was one thing, but mentally, it was hard to accept that my dream might be over,” said Jackson. “What got me through was learning to ask for help and accepting it from my doctors, physical therapists, family, coaches, and teammates. They reminded me to believe in myself. My goal of playing baseball again gave me purpose, and step by step, it pushed me past every setback.”