2025 Scholarship Winner: Katherine Fisher
September 2, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS – Katherine Fisher, 22, of Connersville, Indiana has been awarded a $3,000 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); Alyssa Heath of Wadesville and Elsa Estridge of Chesterton ($5,000); Allison Kirts of Newton, Illinois; Emma Murphy of Indianapolis ($1,000) and Sara Kamp-Austin of Crown Point ($1,000).
In the essay portion of her scholarship application, Fisher shared her connection to organ donation.
> Download a high-resolution image of Fisher (image includes her donor hero, sister Maddie Fisher (right)
“Last summer, my little sister had a massive seizure and drowned in our family pool on her 14th birthday. She was flown to Indianapolis but passed away a week later,” Fisher wrote. “She was able to give life to two other individuals through organ donation. Although we grieve her, my family gained some peace to know that good can come out of every circumstance.
“My family has proudly broadcast how even in such tragedy, the ability to donate life to someone else (through organ and tissue donation) is such a blessing,” she said. “Our entire community knows my sister was an organ donor and our tragedy greatly impacted my career choice.”
A graduate of Connersville High School in Connersville, Indiana, Fisher is a student at Indiana University East pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
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.
