Incarnate Word Academy sophomore Mikaela Rendon is one of two high school students in the state of Texas to be selected to meet and play golf with women’s professional golf legend Nancy Lopez.
The IWA High School Level golfer will meet the golf professional on Friday, Oct. 17, at the National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame Awards in San Antonio, where Lopez will be inducted into the National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame.
“My parents have always talked about her and my grandmother used to call me ‘Nancy Lopez’ when I was little because I played golf,” Rendon said. “It’s a pretty big honor to be chosen.”
Her father Mike Rendon credits this honor and opportunity to her good grades, volunteer efforts, and her mission to raise awareness on diabetes. Their family lost her grandmother to the disease.
“One of her big volunteer projects falls on her birthday,” Mike Rendon said. “When she was six years old, she said ‘Instead of a piñata, birthday party, and gifts let’s participate in a diabetes walk.’”
Mikaela Rendon said she invites her friends each year to participate in the "Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes."
“Instead of gifts, I’ve asked friends to donate money to the cause,” she said.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, she will have the opportunity to hit the green with Lopez at the Sonterra Country Club in San Antonio. She recently earned first place at a Flour Bluff tournament and third place at a Gregory-Portland tournament and said that she is excited to meet Lopez.
“I’m nervous to play with her, but I’m sure she will help me and give me tips to improve my game,” she said.