SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Dorian Darghali, a freshman forward for the Cal Lutheran University men's soccer team, has been selected as a January 2026 recipient of the CalHOPE Courage Award.

Presented monthly since February 2022, the CalHOPE Courage Award honors student-athletes at California colleges and universities who have overcome stress, anxiety, and mental trauma associated with personal hardship and adversity. In addition to the recognition, a donation is made on behalf of each honoree to support mental health services.

Darghali was recognized for his leadership and advocacy surrounding student-athlete mental health. His journey began in high school, when he started experiencing severe anxiety that led to isolation and panic attacks.

His first anxiety attack occurred moments after stepping onto the pitch for Chatsworth High School. What had once been a place of calm and confidence quickly became a source of physical distress and mental anguish. Like many athletes, Darghali felt pressure to conceal his struggles, fearing they would be perceived as a weakness and potentially cost him opportunities, respect, or playing time.

Over time, Darghali realized he was not alone. Many of his teammates were quietly dealing with anxiety, depression, burnout, and the mounting pressures of academics and athletics. That realization became a turning point, motivating him to speak up and take action.

Channeling his experience into advocacy, Darghali became a vocal supporter of student-athlete mental health reform. He authored an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times urging California to adopt mandatory mental health training for coaches, similar to Ohio's model, and supported legislation such as AB 2411, which empowers youth mental health boards while challenging harmful norms that discourage male athletes from seeking help. During his freshman season at Cal Lutheran, Darghali appeared in four matches and scored his first collegiate goal against Caltech.

"Opening up showed me that I wasn't alone, and that talking about mental health doesn't make you weak. It gives you the strength to keep going and to help others do the same," said Darghali.

The CalHOPE Courage Award is presented by College Sports Communicators in association with The Associated Press; CalHOPE, a Department of Health Care Services crisis counseling and support resource; and the Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being.

"CalHOPE is honored to continue recognizing student-athletes statewide who have overcome challenges to perform their best as both scholars and athletes," said Autumn Boylan, Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships at DHCS, which oversees CalHOPE. "CalHOPE's purpose is to build community resilience and help people recover from disasters and public health emergencies through free outreach, crisis counseling, and support services. We hope that by sharing these stories of courage, all will be inspired."

The stories of CalHOPE Courage Award recipients reflect the spirit of Governor Newsom's Path and Purposes Executive Order, which calls for a statewide effort to improve mental health outcomes, reduce stigma, and reconnect young people, especially men and boys, with education, work, and mentorship opportunities.

Darghali joins previous Cal Lutheran honoree Madie Fahey, a 2025 graduate of the women's soccer team.

For more information, visit https://calhopecourageaward.org/.