Lia Feriancek of Chico, California, has volunteered for the past eight years with Special Olympics Northern California and Minnesota. She will represent Special Olympics USA as a caddie in golf. Lia’s uncle was an active Special Olympics athlete and competed in the Special Olympics World Games Baton Rouge 1983. Her mother serves as director of a golf program and has been involved with Special Olympics in her community for more than 40 years. Above all, Lia admires the enthusiasm and positive attitudes of Special Olympics athletes. In 2022, Lia competed as a Unified partner at the Special Olympics USA Games in golf. She looks forward to supporting Special Olympics Northern California athlete Jessy Lane as she competes for gold.
Lia earned a bachelor's degree in design communication from the University of Minnesota. She is employed at Klean Kanteen, working to provide stainless steel water bottles to reduce plastic waste. She enjoys cooking, surfing, snowboarding and kitesurfing.
Berlin is a special place to Lia, as she lived there for nearly three years. She is proud of all Special Olympics athletes, who train and study in all aspects of the sports that they love.