Andrea Balzano

Name: Andrea Balzano
Hometown: Elkhart, IN
Graduation Year: 2014
Major: Journalism, International Studies
Years on the Team: 3

2014 Riders Council President; Collins Cycling Captain

In the fall of 2011, I decided to start a women’s Little 500 team at Collins Living-Learning Center after a four year hiatus from the race. I knew nothing about cycling, had never been to the race before, and had only been running actively for about six months. By January 2012, I was fully committed to building a cycling program at Collins that would live past my time here at IU, and I quickly fell in the love with the Little 500 community. This race and my team helped my find my place at IU, and I am now currently the President of the Little 500 Riders Council. After a rough attempt at Qualifications last year, I want to see my team race this year to our fullest potential. I want to push myself and my teammates, and I want to have fun every time I hop on my bicycle. As long as I see my teammates grow as individuals and as cyclists, I’ll be happy. I absolutely love the Little 500, and sharing that experience is my number one goal.

I love nature and being outside! I grew up riding horses, and I see many parallels between that hobby and cycling. I’ve fallen off of my horse and my bike dozens of times; these two sports have taught me to always get back on, no matter how bad the fall hurts. I also enjoy snowboarding, hiking, reading, running, and traveling.

In the fall, I will be headed to South Dakota to teach on a Native America reservation as a 2014 Teach for America corps member. I feel passionately that all children deserve equal access to education and great teachers, regardless of their income. My leadership experience as team captain and Riders Council President has helped me become a strong, inspired, dedication person, and I plan to take everything I’ve learned here at IU to my classroom. When I started Little 5, I told myself that if I inspire one more student to find themselves through cycling, my time here will be successful. Similarly, if I help one student get closer to a high school diploma or a college degree, I will consider my time with TFA a great success.