An Evening with Laurie Hernandez

Union Board presents An Evening with Laurie Hernandez! 2016 gold medal–winning Olympic gymnast and Dancing with the Stars champion Laurie Hernandez shares her story in her own words.

At sixteen years old, Laurie Hernandez made many of her dreams come true—and yet was only the beginning for this accomplished athlete. A Latina Jersey girl, Laurie saw her life take a dramatic turn when she qualified and was chosen to be a part of the US Olympic gymnastics team. After winning gold in Rio as part of the Final Five, Laurie also earned an individual silver medal for her performance on the balance beam. Nicknamed “the Human Emoji” for her wide-eyed and animated expressions, Laurie continued entertaining while competing and winning on the hit reality TV show Dancing with the Stars. Both poignant and funny, Laurie’s story is about growing up with the dream of becoming an Olympian and what it took to win gold. She talks about her loving family, her rigorous training, her intense sacrifices, and her amazing triumphs. A fierce advocate for mental health awareness and access to resources for all, Laurie speaks about her own personal experiences and how she took charge to challenge the myths and stereotypes surrounding mental issues. Students who pick up their tickets by March 28 will be entered into a raffle to attend a meet and greet with Laurie on April 1 at 4:30. Online tickets for the public will become available on March 24 at 8:00 a.m.