An Ottawa Catholic School Board graduate who now helps bring sport to tens of thousands of girls and women in India has been named a Distinguished Catholic Alumni by the board.
Lisa Travella-Murawsky, who attended St. Pius X High School in Ottawa, is the Sports Director at the Naandi Foundation in India. According to the Ottawa Catholic School Board, her work helps expand access to sport for approximately 180,000 girls and women in underserved communities.
The alumni recognition honours graduates whose contributions reflect the values of Catholic education and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, the board said.
From Ottawa to India
Travella-Murawsky credits her parents with teaching her the importance of giving back, and credits St. Pius X with strengthening her understanding of community and belonging.
The foundation's sports program is powered by approximately 1,500 women, creating a network of leadership and mentorship that reaches communities across India.
Her professional journey began in Brussels, Belgium, where she worked with an international sports federation. Her career took her to sporting events around the world.
A moment walking past a playground in Belgium changed her thinking. She noticed a young girl shooting a basketball by herself, simply trying to make a basket and having fun.
The joy she saw stayed with her, reminding her that sport does not have to be about elite competition or medals — sometimes it is simply about having the opportunity to play.
That realization shifted the direction of her career toward how sport could reach more girls, including those from different backgrounds and with different abilities who might otherwise never have the chance to participate.
Access and opportunity
For Travella-Murawsky, access to sport is about more than having a place to play. It is about creating the right environment and support systems so girls can discover what they are capable of.
On a field or court, differences can begin to disappear, she believes — background and circumstance become less important than the opportunity to participate, contribute, belong and grow together.
She has also spoken about the difference encouragement can make, expressing gratitude for the female mentors and male allies who supported and challenged her along the way.
The board says her journey from St. Pius X to communities around the world reflects exactly what the Distinguished Catholic Alumni recognition celebrates: graduates who take the values and gifts discovered in their school years and use them to make a difference for others.
