The forward hosts annual camps to empower young hoopers in her dad’s hometown. It started with a duffel bag of shoes.
Paulina Hernandez was distracted by the girls’ shoes.
During a high school trip to her father’s hometown of El Seibo in the Dominican Republic, the Wisconsin native and future Youngstown State forward watched a local basketball team practice in Crocs, Converse and whatever footwear they had available.
“It kind of touched me and I was like, ‘Wow, I have such a big platform, and I feel like I can really impact them,’” Hernandez said.
“I feel like God was calling me to impact the girls.”
Service in the area was already part of Hernandez’s family.
Her father, Marcos Hernandez Goicos, founded Seibo al Progreso, an organization that works to boost the social, economic and educational well-being of El Seibo residents, in 2009.
Following in her father’s footsteps, Hernandez returned from her trip and began collecting gently used shoes from her Amateur Athletic Union team and high school classmates. She brought over 60 pairs — enough to outfit the girls program and some of the boys — back to the Dominican Republic in duffel bags.
The shoe drive became something bigger. Hernandez worked with her sister Nicole, a former college basketball student-athlete at Lindenwood and Minnesota-Crookston, to start a free basketball clinic for young girls in El Seibo. Dominicanas en la Cancha, or Dominicans on the Court, was born in 2024.
At Youngstown State, Hernandez has also established herself as a key contributor on the court. She was named the Horizon League’s Sixth Player of the Year in 2026 after leading the conference with 63 blocked shots.
As Dominicanas en la Cancha grew, Hernandez began bringing her Youngstown State family with her.
Former guard Bella Samz, sophomore Brooke Adkins and graduate Casey Santoro have joined Hernandez in El Seibo, giving campers more individualized instruction while gaining a different perspective themselves.
Coach Melissa Jackson said Hernandez’s service gives the Penguins an “unbelievable perspective.” Part of the experience is figuring out how to coach players through a language barrier.
“I have heard them come back and be like, ‘Wow, Coach, it was really challenging but so rewarding, as well,’” Jackson said.
The Youngstown State athletics community helps Hernandez’s impact in El Seibo grow.
“They’ve gotten behind the initiative and have helped with travel down there for the student-athletes, as well as collecting slightly used shoes for (Hernandez) to bring down there. She brings full bags of shoes to give to the young people down in the Dominican,” Jackson said.
With each visit, Hernandez sees the campers’ confidence growing.
“All the girls have come every school year. It’s great. I still text them and ask them about their games and just keep in touch with them. And they can always come to me whenever they have questions or need anything,” Hernandez said.
In the future, the Hernandez sisters hope to combine Dominicanas en la Cancha with their dad’s work at Seibo al Progreso, using hoops, and shoes, to uplift their dad’s community.
“It just warms my heart knowing that I can give back,” Hernandez said, “and knowing I have the platform and the people around me to help me.”
This story is part of the NCAA’s Tomorrow’s Leaders, Today campaign, which showcases how the college sports experience helps student-athletes build the skills and character traits that contribute to lifelong success.
