Caitlin moved to a new school during the COVID-19 pandemic, and did not have many close friends. Her parents both played volleyball when they were younger, and suggested that she try out for the middle school team to make some new friends. She made the seventh grade team and really enjoyed the season, so she decided to try out at Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Academy the following year. From then on her passion for volleyball continued to grow, as well as her involvement in leadership roles at her school through clubs and extracurricular activities.
One of these clubs is Mini-THON, that raises money for children battling cancer. Throughout the year, Mini-THON hosts a variety of events open to the Pine Richland High School students and community through Football Game T-Shirts Sales, Bake Sales, and most importantly the Mini-Thon Dance at her school. Last year she was recruited by the previous Mini-THON Chairs, as well as the club sponsor, to become a Captain. By excelling in the position, and collectively raising more money than the club has in years, she was able to move up into the Chair position for the upcoming year.
“I became involved in the club because it holds a special place in my heart from having multiple family members suffer from the horrible disease. I hope that participating in this club with help to make a difference in the lives of many,” said Caitlin.
Caitlin is second from the right
Caitlin has always been interested in leadership positions in the community since it was something she learned at a young age. Her family would always volunteer at local events whenever they could.
“My interest started as more of an expectation, but has recently changed into something that brings me joy. I am glad that I am able to help out as much as I can, and it is exciting to see how much that can help someone else,” added Caitlin.
In her role as Vice President of Student Government, she helps organize fundraising for the Student Body, as well as events in the community. Caitlin is also responsible for involving the students in her class in the decisions that affect the school, while also making a positive impact in the community.
“The most impactful volunteer opportunity I’ve had was participating in the fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As a Candidate for Team Cure Coalition, I was constantly challenged to step outside my comfort zone by coordinating events, reaching out to donors, and sharing our mission pillars with others. The most impactful part of the entire campaign was hearing the stories of those impacted by blood cancers. There were families who had just lost loved ones, as well as survivors who were able to share their journeys. The experience taught me how to lead and advocate for something I care about as well as how to use my time to serve others,” stated Caitlin.
Caitlin is passionate about the medical field and has participated in several prestigious programs, such as the Boston University Summer Challenge, where she studied Infectious Diseases and The Chemistry of Medicine, and Carnegie Mellon’s Project Ignite, where she researched natural selection and its connection to mental health.
In 2018 Caitlin’s older brother, Alex, was diagnosed with a tumor in his brain, and went through surgery to remove it. Unfortunately, over the next six years other tumors continued to show up on scans. He went through a variety of treatments including multiple sessions of radiation and procedures.
“I could see the strain this put on my family and the challenges that he had to face. From then on I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, where I would hopefully ensure that families did not have to deal with that struggle alone. The Infectious Disease course I took at Boston University was an amazing opportunity to discover the extensive research behind some of the most deadly diseases. It once again solidified my decision to take on the study of medicine,” shared Caitlin.
Alex is someone Caitlin looks up to as a role model. No matter the challenges he faces, he is always able to push through them and persevere. After hisradiation and surgery’s, there was a low chance of him returning to sports and activities, especially those involving contact. Against a lot of odds, he was able to return to the sports he loves and play all throughout high school.
“Whenever I need someone to complain to or need help with an obstacle, he is there for me. I am so grateful to have him supporting me, and I will miss him a lot when he goes to college in the fall.”
Caitlin Baculik was awarded the 2025 JVA Athleader Award after being nominated by Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association (Pittsburgh, PA), 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.
