Over the course of a storied veteran career in Major League Soccer, Hector Jimenez has made a name as a consistently talented player and model professional. That reputation brought him to Austin FC ahead of their inaugural 2021 season, where he’s been a steadfast presence on the field and in the locker room. A devoted husband and father, Hector uses his success and story as a first-generation American to inspire not only his own children, but also the students in 4ATX programs whose practices he has joined and whose stories he has heard, as they embark on the journey ahead.

A staple of the Central Texas soccer community over the past 20 years, Elias Barahona has shaped countless lives as a teacher and soccer coach. At International High School, which he attended after a year-long emigration journey from Honduras to Austin at age 13,Elias inspires emergent bilingual students of parallel backgrounds to dream big and achieve greatness. Elias has been a powerful advocate for 4ATX Foundation and is now pursuing a Master’s in Education Leadership and Administration.

After meeting the Verde Leaders team while playing at the Wooldridge mini-pitch in 2021,Bryan reached out to get involved coaching. In his three years with the program, Bryan’s maturity, patience and mentorship have set a powerful example for students in his own neighborhood. That remarkable impact was recognized nationally earlier this year, when Bryan was named a regional honoree of ESPN’s Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award. Now a Junior at Texas State University, Bryan aspires to use his platform and the power of soccer to elevate the voices and stories of youth in his hometown.