Recognized for her leadership in youth advocacy, sports accessibility, and community impact, Franceska Colocado is a student leader, journalist, volleyball coach, and founder of Gear for Greatness Inc., a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking down financial barriers in sports. Founded at just 16 years old, Gear for Greatness was created from Franceska’s firsthand experiences witnessing talented athletes struggle to afford the equipment, training, and opportunities needed to continue competing. Guided by the belief that “Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn’t,” her organization works to provide sports gear, mentorship, leadership initiatives, and community-driven support to underserved athletes.

Growing up in League City, Texas, Franceska often felt underrepresented and struggled with confidence while navigating severe health challenges throughout much of her childhood, including life-threatening medical complications that deeply impacted her physically and emotionally. Sports became more than competition for her — they became a place of healing, discipline, and belonging. Volleyball gave her confidence during some of her most difficult years, but it also exposed her to the realities many athletes quietly face every day. She watched teammates and young athletes walk away from sports because their families could not afford club fees, uniforms, equipment, or travel expenses. Those experiences deeply resonated with her father’s own story as a student-athlete who faced financial hardship that limited opportunities during his athletic journey.

Everything changed in 2023 after Franceska attended a leadership immersion program at Yale University, where a keynote speaker challenged students with two simple words: “Take action.” Inspired to create tangible change rather than simply talk about problems, Franceska returned home and founded Gear for Greatness. What began as a small youth-led initiative quickly evolved into a growing movement focused on making sports more accessible while empowering athletes both on and off the court.

Today, Franceska is a student at The University of Texas at Austin. Alongside leading Gear for Greatness, she serves as a sports reporter, mentors younger athletes through coaching, and actively participates in organizations including Women in Sports and Entertainment and the Business of Sports Student Organization. She uses storytelling, journalism, and leadership as tools to amplify underrepresented voices within sports while advocating for greater accessibility and representation for women and minority athletes.

Her work has earned recognition, including the Her Campus e.l.f.ing Amazing 22 Under 22 Award and multiple honors for leadership, academics, and community impact. Through every role she holds — nonprofit founder, journalist, mentor, and advocate — Franceska remains committed to building a future where every athlete has access to the opportunities, support, and belief needed to pursue their full potential, regardless of circumstance.