Marko Tanjga | New York, NY
Soccer
Marko is a competitive soccer player for Grace Church School and a former player with Downtown United Soccer Club (DUSC). On the field, he has learned teamwork, discipline, and the importance of a level playing field—values that also shape his commitment to equity off the field.
Drawing from his family’s roots—his father from authoritarian Serbia and his mother from socialist Canada—Marko has long been interested in how political systems shape people’s lives. That curiosity led him to launch www.stopauthoritarianism.com, a platform where he writes about threats to democracy, including efforts to weaken the U.S. Department of Education and book or curriculum bans.
As an ambassador and correspondent for Ballers for Ed Reform, Marko aims to connect the fight for educational equity with the broader struggle against authoritarianism. He is particularly committed to supporting students in underresourced schools through tutoring and advocacy, believing athletes can play a powerful role in defending fairness, opportunity, and democratic values—both in schools and in society.
Danny Kelly | Old Westbury, NY
Basketball
Daniel J. Kelly is currently a Freshman at the Wheatley High School in Old Westbury, NY, where he plays on the Junior Varsity soccer team. Daniel is also very passionate about basketball and currently plays with the Heat Elite AAU basketball program. Daniel is a member of the Church of Saint Aidan, where he completed the CYO basketball program and now enjoys teaching his younger sister who is currently in the program about the game. Daniel has also played baseball in the East Williston Little League, East Williston Wildcats travel baseball program, B1000 Seminoles and Willets Road baseball teams. He now supports his two younger sisters who currently play in the East Williston Little League and East Williston Wildcats travel softball programs. He enjoys exercising, cycling, golfing and physical fitness. He is a member of the STEPPS/Connections Club at Wheatley which raises funds and awareness for Autism Awareness month and for various other organizations voted on by the students. Daniel volunteers with the League of Yes, teaching special needs children the game of basketball. Daniel's favorite classes include Sports & Entertainment Marketing and Spanish, where he practices learning the language both in school and with his relatives from Chile.
We are currently looking for student ambassadors, and there are multiple ways to get involved:
Guest
blogging
Community Service Event updates or articles
Sharing resources
Interviews with athletes or writing features