2025 Scholarship Winner: Alyssa Heath
September 2, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS – Alyssa Heath, 19, of Wadesville, Indiana has been awarded a $5,000 educational scholarship from Indiana Donor Network Foundation.
Indiana Donor Network Foundation established its scholarship fund in 2005 to provide educational scholarships for family members of Indiana residents who are organ and tissue donors, living donors, transplant recipients or people waiting for lifesaving transplants.
Those selected as scholarship recipients often help raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation in saving and healing lives.
This year, the Foundation awarded $25,000 in scholarships, made possible due to the generosity of financial contributions made by Indiana Donor Network employees and supporters of the Foundation.
Other 2025 scholarship recipients include Lainey Akins of Fishers ($7,000); Elsa Estridge of Chesterton ($5,000); Allison Kirts of Newton, Illinois, and Katherine Fisher of Connersville ($3,000); Emma Murphy of Indianapolis ($1,000) and Sara Kamp-Austin of Crown Point ($1,000).
In the essay portion of her scholarship application, Heath shared her connection to organ donation.
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“Organ and tissue donation became deeply personal to my family in 2014 when my cousin
passed away due to an unexpected issue with her heart,” she wrote. “Despite the tragedy of losing her, she was able to give the gift of life to others by donating her heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, and various tissues, along with her corneas. The impact of her generosity was immediate and profound, as her organs provided renewed hope to multiple recipients.”
One of the most powerful aspects of organ and tissue donation is its ability to turn tragedy into hope,” she continued. “Organ and tissue donation is one of the most powerful ways to leave a lasting impact on the world. Knowing that her donations saved and improved so many lives gave us something to hold onto. I often think about the people she helped – individuals who were facing their own battles, uncertain of whether they would see another holiday, another birthday or another day with their loved ones. Because of her generosity, they were given a second chance.”
A graduate of North Posey High School in Poseyville, Indiana, Heath is currently a student at Indiana University Bloomington majoring in accounting and business law.
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 founded in 1997, 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.
