About Lance
Runner. Leader. Student-athlete. Son. Brother. Friend. Advocate. A light in the lives of so many.
A life that made people feel seen.
Lance Andreas Jesus Sotelo had a way of making people feel like they mattered.
He was remembered for his smile, his laugh, his courage, his kindness, and the way he showed up for the people around him. Whether he was running, serving his campus community, spending time with family, encouraging a friend, or simply being himself, Lance brought warmth into the spaces he entered.
He did not just move through life. He made people feel included in it.
From Dalton to Charlotte.
Lance was from Dalton, Georgia, and his journey eventually brought him to Queens University of Charlotte. When he moved into Queens as a freshman, his family came with him for move-in weekend. That same weekend was Charlotte Pride.
For his family, that memory has stayed close. Charlotte was not just where Lance went to school. It became part of his story, his growth, his friendships, his leadership, and his sense of belonging.
A runner with purpose.
Running was a major part of Lance's life. He competed as a student-athlete at Queens University of Charlotte and was part of the cross country and track and field community. Running reflected so much of who he was: disciplined, determined, resilient, and willing to keep going.
But Lance's legacy is bigger than running.
Running was one way he expressed perseverance. His life was the fuller story: the way he loved people, the way he led, the way he made room for others, and the way he lived authentically.
Mile 4.0 / Leadership
A leader who lived authentically.
At Queens, Lance was more than a student-athlete. He was a leader, a graduate student, a student body president, a resident assistant, and someone who cared deeply about inclusion and community.
He believed in showing up as his full self. He also believed in helping other people feel safe, accepted, and encouraged to do the same.
That is part of why Lance's Legacy is not only about athletic support. It is about belonging. It is about helping young people feel seen before the world tells them to shrink.
Loved by family. Remembered by community.
Lance's impact can be seen in the people who continue to speak his name with love. His family, friends, teammates, classmates, and community members remember someone who was brave, funny, compassionate, determined, accepting, and deeply loved.
The grief of losing Lance is real. But so is the love that remains. Lance's Legacy was created to carry that love forward.
Honoring Lance by continuing his spirit.
Lance passed away in January 2026 after being struck by a vehicle in Charlotte. He was 25.
There are no words that can fully capture that loss. But Lance's family and community are choosing to honor him through action: by supporting young athletes, helping students pursue their futures, creating spaces of belonging, and continuing the values Lance lived every day.