CCAA Hometown Heroes is a look at current and former CCAA student-athletes and staff who are now on the front lines in the worldwide fight against COVID-19.  Individuals from CCAA member institutions have answered the call to help battle the pandemic, whether it be in the field of healthcare, as a first responder, through volunteer efforts or a variety of other essential services being performed throughout communities around the state and globe. 

Cal State San Bernardino native Patricia Cortez ran cross country and track and field for the Coyotes from 2012-16 before remaining in her hometown to protect and serve as a deputy sheriff with the Cal State San Bernardino Sheriff's Department. Her drive to serve starts at home.

"My motivation is my family and striving to make the community a safer place," she notes. "Our department continues to care for everyone's safety and respond to the calls for service. We are now wearing face coverings to help stop the spread while continuing to serve our community."

As with everyone, this year living and working in a global pandemic has been trying for Cortez, but also turned into a time for reflection and appreciation. 

"2020 has been an incredibly difficult year," Cortez says. "Not being able to spend time with family and friends is very disheartening, but it's also shown us to appreciate the smaller things in life."

As a collegiate athlete for Cal State San Bernardino, Cortez helped pace the Coyotes as the school's top runner in the CCAA Cross Country Championships all four years, racing to All-CCAA honors once and earning All-West Region distinction as a senior. Around the track, she dots the Cal State San Bernardino record books with the second-fastest 5,000 meter time in program history. Running for the Coyotes gave Cortez a plethora of life lessons that influence her today.

"Participating in collegiate athletics taught me it is important to maintain qualities such as perseverance, staying hopeful, and teamwork, which influences my mindset in overcoming the pandemic."

The CCAA salutes Patricia and her colleagues at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, and all of our CCAA Hometown Heroes!