Perry HS Graduate Awarded First-Ever Roger Grein Legacy Scholarship
Alyssa Vis from Perry High School, recipient of the first-ever Roger Grein Legacy Scholarship.
This school year, Perry HS senior Alyssa Vis completed an impressive 178 hours of service. That’s an entire week of service! Alyssa’s heart for service and leadership role in her school’s service-learning program led to tremendous growth for the program, and impact on dozens of lives, growth of her program…and a $2,500 scholarship.
Each year, Magnified Giving awards Roger Grein Spirit of Philanthropy Recognition to youth who embody the generous and philanthropic spirit of our founder, Mr. Roger Grein, through their participation in Magnified Giving. This year, for the first time ever, we are also thrilled to award the Roger Grein Legacy Scholarship to the highest scoring honoree in grades 10-12. This scholarship is worth $2,500 toward post-secondary education, certification courses, personal development experiences, or other continuing education opportunities. This year, Magnified Giving is proud to award the Roger Grein Legacy Scholarship to Alyssa Vis of Perry High School.
While a student at Perry High School, Alyssa served as the Student Philanthropy Director for the Perry Service Learning (PSL). PSL, taught by Mr. Mark Soeder and Mrs. Allison Trentanelli, is an elective for seniors that combines English and social studies curricula with volunteer opportunities to promote social involvement through education and service. In her role as Student Philanthropy Director, Alyssa assisted in planning a field trip to Cincinnati, which involved hands-on service, connecting with community leaders, and a visit to Magnified Giving. Alyssa also developed a monthly newsletter for over 700 alumni, and even organized a successful donor appreciation event.
Alyssa packs bags of food at Freestore Foodbank during PSL’s service trip to Cincinnati, which Alyssa helped coordinate.
Alyssa identified several important and practical skills she learned through her experience in Magnified Giving and PSL. She says, “Throughout this year, leading the Magnified Giving program allowed me to learn about the process of philanthropy. I now understand how grant applications work and the grant application process. I know how to find nonprofits to donate to by looking at their financial reports and tax forms to see how they utilize the money they have. I learned how to make informed decisions about which nonprofits to support. I became familiar with nonprofits I never knew about and was able to visit some organizations and learn about their work firsthand.”
Alyssa’s teacher and Perry Service Learning instructor, Mark Soeder, said, “Alyssa has taken our Magnified Giving program to new heights. She sought out opportunities to connect with donors both in person and virtually. Through her efforts, we were able to bring in $17,600 this year through a combination of sponsorships, donations, and grants.” Because of all of the work Alyssa and the Perry Service Learning program did this past year, the Student Advisory Board is working toward mentoring a nearby high school in Northeast Ohio that is interested in starting a Magnified Giving program.
Magnified Giving staff and Founder Roger Grein met with Alyssa, her mom, and her teachers to present the Roger Grein Legacy Scholarship and celebrate Alyssa!
Kelly Collison, Executive Director of Magnified Giving, said, “Three words immediately came to mind when I read [Alyssa’s] application. Leadership, Legacy, and Love.” Magnified Giving staff met with Alyssa, her mother, and her teachers over Zoom to present her the Roger Grein Legacy Scholarship. During the presentation, Roger said, “It means so much to me that this could happen, and all the best to you, Alyssa!” Alyssa will also be recognized at the Future of Philanthropy Dinner by Magnified Giving on September 27, 2022.
Alyssa graduated from Perry High School this year, and she will be attending John Carroll University in the fall, where she has already enrolled in a service-focused class for the fall semester of her freshman year. Additionally, Alyssa plans to be involved in the school’s service organizations and pursue as many opportunities to volunteer as she can.
Alyssa and her classmates with Roger Grein during their immersive service trip to Cincinnati and a visit to Magnified Giving.
When asked how she planned to maintain a philanthropic mindset and continue serving her community, Alyssa said, “This year I logged 178 community service hours, and each experience has left an imprint on me. I discovered that the best way to find happiness is through giving. When I was choosing a college, I was drawn to schools with strong opportunities to engage in community service. I will be attending John Carroll University and already registered for a session at freshman orientation with a service theme. I plan to get involved through their Center for Service-Learning and Social Action…I am excited to hear about weekly service opportunities and immersion trips, and I plan to participate in as many of these as I can.”
She also plans to stay engaged with the Perry Service Learning program and build relationships with community nonprofits. Alyssa says, “One of my favorite parts of my Magnified Giving experience this year was learning more about nonprofits and going to site visits to learn what they do and meeting people who give their time to lead them. I am inspired by former PSL students who actively continue to serve their community. They are good role models for me of how to continue seeking out opportunities to give as I move into the next chapter of my life. I hope to be a person who encourages others to engage in philanthropy. I plan to generously support nonprofits and causes that are meaningful to me.”
Along with Alyssa, Magnified Giving is proud to honor 18 other students from high schools across Ohio and Northern Kentucky with Roger Grein Spirit of Philanthropy Recognition. Meet the other Roger Grein Spirit of Philanthropy Honorees here.