Eliza Rice, ’19, turned what could have been a setback into a stepping stone to success.

As a former track athlete who competed at the Division 1 level for the University of New Mexico, Rice faced a career‑ending injury that forced her to reimagine her future. After exploring various paths, including a transformative study abroad experience in France, she found her way to the Milwaukee Bucks, where she now serves as an Account Service Executive managing over $5.1 million in member accounts.

“Though my role often requires long hours and emotionally taxing conversations, at the end of the day, it’s just tickets and basketball—not open heart surgery,” Rice reflects. “It’s about creating and perpetuating joy through sport!”

Her high school sports experience, particularly in track and field, taught her valuable lessons about competition that she carries into her professional life. “The most rewarding achievements are those that prove that I’m a better version of myself than the previous day or race.”