Virginia Lottery present's the latest in its series, Inside the Nest, with senior track and field star Valentina Leon-Ledezma!

Name: Valentina Leon-Ledezma

Sport: Track and Field

Hometown: Lorton, Virginia

Major: Psychology and Sociology, minor in Social Justice

Favorite Class:

Diversity in Higher Education

Favorite Professor: Dr. Dunn

Favorite part about being a UMW student-athlete:

My favorite part is the atmosphere. It is fun being surrounded by an amazing group of athletes and we make the best of it. Our coach makes practice fun and rewarding for us. After practice, we always go to the UC and have a good laugh.

Favorite thing to do in Fredericksburg:

I love going to coffee shops downtown! The vibes are amazing, and it feels like I'm in an ambience Youtube video.

Fun fact about me:

I can sneeze up to 10 times in a row.

Favorite UMW memory:

There was a tire swing on campus for a few days. Going on it with a few of my closest friends was fun and I felt like a little kid again.

What has playing at UMW meant to you:

Running track and field has meant working hard and performing for myself and my teammates. It's been competitive and I've learned a lot about myself through the years.

Post-graduate plans:

I am going into the Higher Education master's program at Virginia Tech! I will be working with the transfer student community to help them transition into the university. Throughout my studies and time at Virginia Tech, I hope to immerse myself into the sports administration side. Afterwards, I dream of working in the NCAA or in sports administration.

I would like to thank:

My amazing coaches that challenged me and saw my potential. I would also like to thank my parents and sister who are proud of me and my achievements. Shoutout to my roommates as well < 3

What is your favorite memory of competing as a student-athlete at UMW?

My junior year, our conference championship was at Salisbury University. Everyone ran to the best of their ability, and the majority of the team left with medals. It was amazing to see everyone's achievements on the scoreboard. The bus ride after, we were all on a running high, because we were so happy for each other and the way each of us performed.