Watch Cat Zingano surprise Noelani Martinez with the “Overcoming Loss” Scholarship
MMA fighter Cat Zingano has awarded the $10,000 Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship to Noelani Martinez, a courageous survivor from San Antonio, TX. Cat established this scholarship in 2021 to support students facing profound loss, inspired by her own journey through immense personal challenges. The scholarship is designed for students who, despite significant hardships, continue to demonstrate resilience and pursue their goals.
Cat shared,
"I want to say thank you and I'm proud of you to every single one of the applicants. This was a tough decision to choose a winner and I'm so honored to have gotten to hear your stories of resilience.”
Noelani Martinez was selected for her inspiring story of strength and perseverance. A survivor of the 2016 Brussels attack, Noelani faced unimaginable loss and trauma. Yet, she channeled her grief into motivation, dedicating herself to caring for her family and excelling academically. Currently a student at William J. Brennan High School, Noelani plans to pursue higher education and contribute to her community, embodying the spirit of perseverance that Cat seeks to uplift through her scholarship.
Reflecting on her own journey, Cat Zingano has faced considerable hardships that shaped her outlook on life and resilience. When she was in college, her mother was diagnosed with stage four brain cancer, a devastating blow that required Cat to balance her education with caregiving responsibilities. Her mother’s passing in 2005 left Cat navigating college, a job, and preparing for the birth of her son—all while coping with grief. Early into her MMA career, Cat faced another profound loss when her husband and career coach took his own life in 2014. These experiences deeply impacted Cat, fueling her dedication to supporting others dealing with loss and adversity.
Noelani shared,
"I am incredibly grateful to Ms. Cat Zingano and her team for awarding me this scholarship. This means so much to my family and me, especially regarding what we went through. I am so happy I had the opportunity to meet and converse with Ms. Zingano about the shared feeling of loss and loneliness from losing a loved one. With this honor, I hope to communicate with more people through music and connect with them on the feelings of perseverance, strength, and support."
The scholarship’s mission reflects Cat’s determination to help students who have experienced the loss of a close family member, guardian, or loved one. Each applicant is evaluated based on essay strength, ambition, and intent to overcome adversity. By providing this financial support, Cat hopes to ease the educational burden for students like Noelani, empowering them to create a brighter future.
Cat is a long-standing champion of educational access through Bold.org, joined by an inspiring list of others like Sloane Stephens, Lexi Hidalgo, Udonis Haslem, Lindsey Vonn, and Marcus Stroman.
For more information about the Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship or to contribute, visit Bold.org.