Maggie Borek ’24: USNA Lacrosse commit, Travis Manion Foundation advocate, and club leader

Maggie Borek ’24 is not only an active member of the Travis Manion Foundation but also a United States Naval Academy Lacrosse commit. Borek’s interest in the Naval Academy sparked from her uncle First Lieutenant Travis Manion, who graduated from the academy in 2004.

“Navy has always been my dream school and I wanted to follow in my uncle’s footsteps,” said Borek.

Additionally, Borek speaks of her dream to play lacrosse at Navy under Cindy Timchal, NCAA’s all-time leader in career wins for D1 women’s college lacrosse. Her dream came true this summer when she was recruited to play lacrosse at the USNA.

Along with her commitment, Borek is also an advocate for the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF). “The Travis Manion Foundation is a non-profit veteran service organization started after my uncle was killed in Iraq in 2007,” said Borek. 

This foundation focuses on families of fallen heroes, in hopes to develop character in future generations. TMF hosts events all across the country to unite communities and share the legacy of fallen heroes. 

Borek said, “‘If Not Me, Then Who’ were the words my uncle shared before leaving for his second deployment to Iraq.” Borek shares this empowering legacy of her uncle and spreads the “If Not Me, Then Who” movement throughout the GA community through the Travis Manion Foundation club.

The club recently made holiday gift bags for Afghan children in Philadelphia who came to America after escaping the Taliban in Afghanistan. Along with Borek’s work in the GA community, she recently returned from a service trip in Puerto Rico, where she worked to rebuild houses damaged by recent hurricanes. “On this trip, I worked with men and women who lost a loved one that served in the military,” said Borek. “It was an amazing expedition where we gave back to people in need while honoring our lost loved ones.”

The Travis Manion Foundation also has a close relationship with the USNA. “I have been exposed to the school in many different ways from football games, to presentations my mom, Ryan Manion, has given to the brigade of Midshipmen,” said Borek.

Borek’s bond with the Travis Manion Foundation and the USNA has grown over the years, eventually leading to her commitment to play lacrosse at the USNA and moving her closer to accomplishing her dream of following in her uncle’s footsteps.