North Central College enrolls more than 150 international students from over 50 countries, according to its admissions office. Three of them are athletes whose stories were profiled in a feature published Wednesday, June 24, by NCC Athletics.

Rafael Lessa, a junior men's tennis player from Brazil, went 16-10 in singles this season and earned a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection. He described the early-arrival orientation that brings international students to campus a week before classes begin.

"Almost everyone's second language is English, so you're all figuring things out together," Lessa said. "It really helps build that community from the start."

Joris Rijnja, a senior defender from Rotterdam, Netherlands, started all 18 games for the Cardinals' men's soccer team in 2025, scored two goals including a game-winner against North Park, and earned United Soccer Coaches All-Region VIII Third Team honors. He credited his Dutch cultural background, which emphasizes direct communication, with helping him earn the team's captaincy.

Linda Luppi, a freshman distance runner and marketing major from Parma, Italy, competed in four cross-country races in her first season. She runs alongside Naperville-area graduates Macy Fleury (Naperville North) and Segi Smith-Pariola (Naperville Central) on the women's track and field roster.

The infrastructure supporting these athletes sits inside the Center for Global Education at Abe House, 48 E. Jefferson Ave. International Student & Scholar Services provides immigration advising and cultural programming. The International Living and Learning Community pairs international and domestic first-year students as roommates to encourage daily exchange. Student organizations including the International Club host events built around shared meals, fitness, and art.

Head coach Enzo Fuschino, who leads the men's soccer program, said the campus is welcoming but acknowledged the real challenges: language barriers, cultural differences, and adjusting to the pace of American life.

When breaks don't align with flights home, international athletes spend holidays like Thanksgiving with American teammates' families. Lessa shares his Brazilian roots through music, teaching teammates songs from his culture.