When Aiden started going to his sister’s volleyball tournaments he was bored, and did a lot of sitting around. Then he started noticing the empty courts and ball carts, so he grabbed a ball and started to play around by himself.  Around age 10 he started peppering with his sister and that’s when he began to really like volleyball. When he watched her play, it looked like she was having a lot of fun, so he wanted to try it as well. Aiden ended up going to Friday night clinics at a local club and he thought the coaches there were amazing, plus the environment felt super fun and welcoming.

“By the time I was 11, I really wanted to get better,” said Aiden. “My sister started training me andhelping me improve. What started as me just killing time turned into something I love doing.”

Aiden aspires to play collegiate volleyball because it has helped shape who he is today.

“The sport has taught me discipline, teamwork, and how to push through challenges. I’m excited for the chance to keep competing at a higher level, improve my skills, and grow both as an athlete and a person,” shared Aiden.

As a 2025 JVA Athleader Award recipient, volleyball has been a platform for Aiden to lead and make a real difference in others’ lives. He was an assistant coach for the Excel 10U team this season, teaching younger players who were learning the game and trying to get better. This experience taught Aiden a lot about patience and how important it is to encourage people and believe in their potential, even when things get tough.

Recently, Aiden noticed a lot of students at his school were having trouble remembering the material they learned in class. For a science fair project, Aiden and a friend decided to create an app or website that could help with that problem. They wanted to make something that would turn notes into flashcards and quizzes automatically, making studying easier and more effective, so they developed the Flashback app using an app builder tool, as well as AI.

“The process was definitely challenging,” expressed Aiden. “Learning how to put everything together, fix bugs, and make sure it was user friendly took a lot of time and effort. Even though it wasn’t perfect, it felt great to create something that could actually help students try new ways to study and organize their work. Creating Flashback taught me a lot about teamwork, problem solving, and sticking with something even when it gets tough. It also showed me how technology can make learning easier and more fun.”

Speaking of fun, Aiden organizes and hosts the Play4Change Sports tournaments, which are events that bring together kids and teens from different communities to play sports and have fun while supporting a good cause. He coordinates the teams, manages the schedule, and makes sure everything runs smoothly during the tournaments. The idea behind Play4Change is to create a positive environment where sports can be a way to connect people, promote teamwork, and support social change.

“It’s been amazing to see how these tournaments bring people together and make a real difference, both on and off the court,” added Aiden.

A Campaign Leader for The American Heart Association, Aiden was nominated as a Teen of Impact because of his passion for helping others and making a difference. He gathered a team and led a fundraiser that raised over $1,000.
“This cause is really close to my heart because my grandma has heart disease,” said Aiden. “Watching her face those challenges made me want to do something meaningful to help others who are going through similar struggles. “It wasn’t always easy balancing everything, but knowing that our efforts could support research and help families like mine kept me going. All the money we raised went directly to supporting research, education, and programs that help prevent and treat heart disease.”
Leading the fundraising team taught Aiden a lot about responsibility, teamwork, and how important it is to use your voice for something bigger than yourself. It also helped him realize how powerful community support is, and it motivates him to keep finding ways to give back and inspire others.

“Leadership has always felt natural to me but it is not about wanting to be “the boss.” I lead because I want to bring people together and make sure everyone feels included. I like helping others share their ideas and making things happen for the community.”

This past school year, Aiden was the President of the Student Senate and CEO of National Junior Honor Society, where he was responsible for planning school events, organizing meetings, and making sure students’ voices were heard. Knowing that he could help create positive changes at his school made all of the hard work feel worth it. Plus, he got to work with a lot of different people, including students, teachers, and staff, and that helped him learn how to communicate better and be more patient.

“That is why I am excited about my new roles this year as Vice President of Student Senate and UNICEF Service Chair. These positions give me a chance to keep growing and make an even bigger impact in ways that matter.”

We look forward to following Aiden’s journey as a student athlete and selfless leader to see how many more lives he continues to positively change.

Aiden Tran was awarded the 2025 JVA Athleader Award after being nominated by Dallas One VBC (Dallas, TX), is a member of the Junior Volleyball Association, a non-profit organization with over 1,600 junior volleyball clubs dedicated to enhancing the junior volleyball experience for players, coaches, clubs and fans.

To learn more about the JVA Athleader Award click HERE. For related reading for junior volleyball athletes, click HERE.