Kirk Lord is a sophomore at Pitzer College and a member of the Pomona-Pitzer track & field program, the combined athletic partnership between the schools. His journey, defined by childhood illness, renewed health challenges, and national advocacy, embodies the resilience and purpose at the heart of the CalHOPE Courage Award.

At just four years old, Kirk experienced a sudden and devastating onset of severe OCD, anxiety, depression, motor tics, cognitive decline, and emotional dysregulation. Once a bright, energetic child, he quickly became unable to write or speak coherently. After months of misdiagnoses, Kirk was finally diagnosed with PANDAS, an autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder triggered by a strep infection that caused inflammation in his brain. With intensive treatment, his symptoms eased and he gradually reclaimed his life.

Rather than allowing the experience to define him, Kirk transformed it into advocacy. As a child, he raised thousands of dollars for PANS/PANDAS research by pogo-sticking across the Golden Gate Bridge, and in college he founded the National PANDAS/PANS Youth Alliance, a youth-led nonprofit advocating awareness, community support, and insurance coverage for medically necessary treatment. The organization has already helped secure federal funding language to advance research through national health and defense initiatives.

During college, Kirk faced another unexpected PANS flare-up tied to multiple infections, resulting in debilitating OCD and anxiety. Recognizing the importance of prioritizing mental and physical health, after competing in cross country in the fall, he made the difficult decision to redshirt for the track & field season while focusing on recovery and advocacy. Due to the stress dual-sport training puts on his body, he sat out the cross-country season this fall and will focus his efforts on track & field running the 400m, 400m hurdles and 800m.

“I’ve learned that mental strength doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It means listening to your body, asking for help, and refusing to give up on yourself, even when the path forward isn’t clear,” said Kirk. “Every challenge I’ve faced has taught me patience, perspective, and the importance of hope.”

While PANS/PANDAS manifests through severe mental health symptoms such as OCD, anxiety, and motor tics, Kirk has learned that addressing the underlying autoimmune response and the encephalitis (brain inflammation) that results from this is essential to recovery. At the same time as he addresses his symptoms through medical intervention, he also has attended therapy over the past year in order to manage OCD through psychological means, and to grow as a person through daily hardship. By combining medical treatment with mental health care, Kirk has developed resilience in the face of symptoms that are often beyond his control. His family has been central to that journey: his parents provide consistent emotional support while navigating medications, infusions, and insurance challenges, and his brother serves as both a role model and source of perspective often reminding Kirk to imagine how much he can grow from this hardship.

Since November 2023 when she transferred from the University of Florida to UCLA, Carly has been tested both physically and emotionally. What began as a lingering hip issue during her sophomore season, eventually required surgery. That expected single procedure soon became two, forcing the Cincinnati, Ohio native to miss the entire 2024 season and spend more than a year away from competition. For an athlete whose identity was rooted in movement, teamwork, and competition, the extended absence from the court took a significant toll on her mental health.

Rather than withdrawing, Carly made a conscious choice to stay engaged. She attended every practice, remained a steady presence in the gym and locker room, and immersed herself in film study to deepen her understanding of the game. She found new ways to compete, challenging herself mentally, staying connected to her teammates, and redefining what contribution looked like when she couldn’t play.

“There were moments when it felt overwhelming being away from the game for so long. I missed competing, I missed the physical grind, and that was hard mentally,” said Carly. “What helped me was staying present every day, finding ways to challenge myself safely, staying around my teammates, and reminding myself that this process was about growth, not just getting back on the court.”

Cleared to return late in the year, Carly carried that growth into the 2025 season helping the Bruins to a 19-13 record including 128- in the conference and into the second round of the NCAA Tournament.  For the year she appeared in 101 sets in 29 matches as a rotational outside hitter.  She finished the year with 47 kills on 168 attempts, hitting .083, while adding 32 digs, 21 total blocks, placed second on the team with 25 service aces and 83.5 points.  Following her graduation from UCLA in December, Carly transferred to Vanderbilt University to continue her studies and complete her final year of eligibility for the Commodores.