Lucas Rojas, a 16‑year‑old from Miami, turned a one‑off kickball game into a full‑fledged league that now boasts six teams, over 40 players with special needs, and more than 60 student volunteers—an impressive leap from the original four‑team setup.
The league’s first season saw 20 players and 40 volunteers, but by spring the numbers swelled to 40 players and 60 volunteers, with both fall and spring seasons now running every year. Volunteers aren’t just on the sidelines; they play alongside the athletes, forming real teams and friendships that last beyond the scoreboard.
In September 2026, Rojas’s work earned a $10,000 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, placing him among 15 winners out of 750 applicants. The award, a national acknowledgment of his impact, also provides funds to keep LINKball expanding.
With the prize money and rising popularity, Rojas plans to add a seventh team next season and recruit more volunteers from neighboring schools, aiming to make LINKball a staple of inclusive sports across the region.