LEESBURG - Nicole Hazelgren is the "Care Traffic Controller" at Angel Flight Southeast, a nonprofit based at the Leesburg International Airport.

Angel Flight Southeast, which covers people who live in Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and The Bahamas, has about 650 pilots who donate the use of their aircraft, fuel and time to transport patients who need medical care not available in their area.

"That's a huge, huge pool of pilots," Hazelgren said.

The 24-year-old has been on the job since February coordinating about 350 flights monthly. She enjoys the interaction with those in need. Recently, she was able to meet one man suffering with cancer before his flight, which is unusual.

"When I talked to him on the phone, he had kindness to his voice," she said. "You want to get their stories. It's hard sometimes bonding with people, but it is what makes it worthwhile - you have kind of a love for them, you just want to help."

There's more to her job than coordinating flights with the pilots and patients. She also makes sure people meet the qualifications for the flight.

"One thing I'm most grateful for is at the end of the night, I feel really good about what I did during the day," she said. "When I wake up, I know I'm going to help people today."

Assisting others isn't new to Hazelgren, who was born in Pasadena, Calif., moved to Puerto Rico for five years and came to Florida when she was 8 or 9.

She said, "We were always the kind of family that was dedicated around the teachings of Christ - serving your fellow man. It's very amazing when you serve others."

Hazelgren was a missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints while living in Alabama from 2012 to 2013. She said she helped people and shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"It was the best, hardest year of my life," she said. "It was great."

Hazelgren, an Orlando resident, earned her associate's degree from Brigham Young University in Idaho and has nearly completed her bachelor's degree in business management from the same school by taking online courses.

Most of her free time goes to studying for school. She also enjoys drawing and spending time with her brothers when they're free. She enjoys helping others, and her job falls squarely into that category.

"I really like helping people and charities," she said.