Biography

Hi everyone! My name is Maria Palarino. I am so excited and grateful to be a Victory Scholar in the Sports Changes Life program this year! I am from Irwin, Pennsylvania, which is just outside of the city of Pittsburgh. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. I was a 4-year starter, a 2-year caption, and a 1,000-point scorer on the St. Francis College women’s basketball team. I made the all conference rookie team as a freshman, and our team won the WBCA academic title (highest women’s basketball team GPA in the NCAA) in 2016. I am ready to continue my career in Ireland where I will be obtaining a master’s degree in business management at Waterford Institute of Technology.

After spending an amazing four years in New York City studying and playing the game I love, I am incredibly excited to continue to learn, play, and immerse myself in a new culture. Basketball has always been a huge part of my life and has given me so many amazing opportunities. As a Victory Scholar, I hope to be a positive influence on the youth of the Irish community and build life-long relationships. Sports have taught me so many important lessons throughout my life and I can’t wait to share them with others while continuing to learn myself. I am humbled that I get the chance to inspire these children to chase their dreams, just like I have. This truly is an opportunity of a lifetime and I could not be more excited!