Terre Haute South Vigo graduate awarded Indiana Donor Network Foundation educational scholarship
August 21, 2024
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Eric Casad, 19, of Terre Haute has been awarded a $2,000 educational scholarship from Indiana Donor Network Foundation.
A 2024 graduate of Terre Haute South Vigo High School where he was an accomplished athlete as a four-year member of the wrestling team and three-year member of both the football and track and field teams, Casad is currently enrolled at Indiana University intending to major in biology.
> Download a high-resolution image of Eric Casad
Indiana Donor Network Foundation established its scholarship fund in 2005 to provide educational scholarships for immediate family members of Indiana residents who are organ and tissue donors in addition to living organ donors, organ transplant recipients, people waiting for lifesaving organ transplants and immediate family members of organ and tissue donors and transplant recipients.
Those selected as scholarship recipients often help raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation in saving and healing lives.
Other recipients this year included Martha Hunter of Carmel ($8,000), Edith Estridge of Chesterton ($6,500), and Katherine Gaff of Syracuse and Halle Mitchell of Jacksonville, Florida ($5,000 each).
In the past five years, Indiana Donor Network Foundation has awarded $114,000 in educational scholarships, which are made possible each year thanks to the generosity of contributions made by Indiana Donor Network employees and the general public.
In the essay portion of his scholarship application, Casad shared his connection to organ donation story.
His older brother, Nicholas, was a high school sectional and regional wrestling champion at South Vigo who continued his wrestling career at Wabash College. But one Sunday morning in June just a little more than a year ago, Nicholas died when he lost control of the SUV he was driving and struck a tree. He was just 20.
“Nicholas was an organ donor. I remember sitting at the license branch with him when they asked if he wanted to sign up to be an organ donor. He immediately responded yes,” Casad said. “When I got my license, I marked the box yes, too.”
Unfortunately, no organs were able to be recovered after Casad’s brother’s accident. “I still struggle with that. Nicholas always wanted to do for others. He often would put others before himself,” Casad said. “When he chose to be an organ donor, he knew he wanted to help others. So I’ve asked myself, ‘How can I carry this on?'”
Today, Casad has his sights set on pursuing a career in healthcare. “My ultimate goal is to pursue a doctorate degree in physical therapy and work in sports medicine to help athletes recover from sports-related injuries,” he said. “I’d also like to advocate for the importance of organ donation in saving lives.”
Despite age or medical history, anyone can sign up to be a donor at DonateLifeIndiana.org. Learn more about Indiana Donor Network.
Indiana Donor Network’s mission is to save and enhance the quality of life through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Its vision is to be a leader in organ and tissue recovery. Founded in 1987, the organization coordinates donation in 85 of the state’s 92 counties and serves transplant hospitals throughout the U.S.
About Indiana Donor Network
The decision to become an organ, tissue and cornea donor is a decision to give the gift of life. Indiana Donor Network serves as the vital link between donors and patients waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, healing tissue and corneas to restore sight. The organization is a federally designated organ recovery organization and accredited tissue bank serving 85 of Indiana’s 92 counties. Its team of nearly 400 dedicated professionals is committed to saving and healing lives through donation and transplantation, championing the cause through education and outreach and supporting donor families in their time of need. For more or to sign up as a donor, visit Indiana Donor Network online.
About Indiana Donor Network Foundation
As a subsidiary of Indiana Donor Network, Indiana Donor Network Foundation enhances the lives of those touched by donation through education, innovation, caring and support. The Foundation raises funds through individual contributions, special events and sponsorships to support transplant recipients and the families of donor heroes. For more, visit Indiana Donor Network Foundation online.
Indiana Donor Network® and the Indiana Donor Network Foundation® are federally registered trademarks.
About Donate Life Indiana
Since 1998, Donate Life Indiana has been the state-authorized nonprofit organization responsible for managing the Indiana donor registry. Its mission is to save lives by creating opportunities for all Indiana citizens to sign up on the organization’s official state registry while striving to raise awareness for organ, tissue and cornea donation and transplantation through public education. For more, visit Donate Life Indiana online.
