WHO SAYS THE PROGRAM CHANGED HERLIFE.BIANCA: DEYANIRA GUDINO CRUZ, ORD.D., MADE A NAME FOR HERSELF INTHE BOXING WORLD, A NATIONALSILVER GLOVES CHAMPION,REPRESENTING THE KANSAS CITYPOLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE’S BOXINGPROGRAM.FROM A YOUNG AGE, D.D.

LEARNEDTO ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES.D.D.: I WASN’T EVEN 2 YEARS OLDWHEN I ARRIVED HERE, BUT GROWINGUP WAS THE HARDEST THING EVERJUST BECAUSE NO ONE IN MY FAMILYSPOKE ENGLISH.BIANCA: D.D.

WAS BROUGHT INTOTHE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.AS AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT,SHE HAD TO FIGHT FOR HER FUTURE.D.D.: SENIOR YEAR, I WATCHED ASEVERYONE APPLIED FORSCHOLARSHIPS, APPLIED TO ALLTHESE UNIVERSITIES, AND I’M NOTABLE TO.I WAITED FIVE YEARS TO BEAPPROVED FOR THE VISA.BIANCA: BOTH IN THE RING AND INLIFE, COACH SHAWNIE FROM THEPOLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE WAS INHER CORNER.COACH SHAWNIE: I THINK BY BEINGIN BOXING SHE LEARNED YOU ARENOT GOING TO WIN EVERY FIGHT,BUT YOU KEEP TRYING.BIANCA: WHEN OFFICERS FOUND OUTD.D.

WAS WORKING TWO JOBS TO PAYFOR HER FIRST SEMESTER OFCOLLEGE, THE POLICE ATHLETICLEAGUE GATHERED DONATIONS TOHELP.D.D.: AND I AM SO THANKFUL FORTHEM, AND THAT’S WHAT MOTIVATESME MORE AND MORE TO GET MYDEGREE AND BECOME SOMEONE INLIFE.BIANCA: D.D.

WANTS TO JOIN THEPOLICE FORCE AFTER GRADUATIONAND ONE DAY COACH OTHER YOUNGBOXERS.D.D.: I THINK THAT WHAT THEY’VEDONE IN MY LIFE I WANT TO DOTHAT AND SO MUCH MORE FOR OTHERKIDS.BIANCA: IN KANSAS CITY