Katie Hnida

Katie Hnida became the first woman in history to score in an NCAA Division I football game when she kicked two extra points for the University of New Mexico on August 30, 2003. Her historic performance came four years after she became the first woman to dress for an NCAA Division I football game in 1999. She got her start in football at a young age, and went on to become the place kicker for Chatfield Senior High School in Littleton, Colorado. During her time there she went 3 for 3 in field goals and converted 27 of 28 extra points her senior year. Her performance earned her a spot on Teen People’s “20 most influential teens” list. After high school she earned a spot on the University of Colorado football team as a walk-on, and remained on the team until 1999. In 2001 she transferred to the University of New Mexico, and made history two years later. She has since graduated from New Mexico and released a book in 2006 detailing her experiences as a female college football player called, “Still Kicking: My Journey as the First Woman to Play Division One College Football. In 2010 she became the kicker for the Fort Wayne FireHawks in the Continental Indoor Football League, making her the first female player in league history. Currently she plays semi-pro football and travels the country delivering a message of inspiration and hope to young girls.