2025 Scholarship Winner: Lainey Akins
September 2, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS – Lainey Akins of Fishers, Indiana has been awarded a $7,000 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 Alyssa Heath of Wadesville and 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).
> Download a high-resolution of Aikens with her family.
When Lainey’s mother Rinda died in February, the family was devastated. They were also inspired. That’s because Rinda made the decision to be an organ donor. While organ donation wasn’t possible, her final act was being a tissue donor. Her skin helped heal several people and her corneas went to lifesaving research.
“She gave selflessly, just as she had done throughout her life,” Akins said. “Her donation was a gift for her recipients and a gift to our family. It gave us peace knowing her kindness would continue to impact others.”
The gifts of her mother inspired Aikens to pursue a career in medicine, specifically psychiatry.
As a student at Fishers High School, Aikens achieved academic honors with a 4.3 GPA and was named to the Indiana Academic All-State Roster, which recognizes students for their academic and athletic achievements. She was also a member of the school’s rugby team, worked part time as a soccer referee and gave more than 55 hours of community service, volunteering at high school fundraising events, youth camps and local events throughout the area.
Aikens is a student at Indiana University Bloomington studying neuroscience as part of her pre-med education.
“Losing my mom opened my eyes to the importance of spreading awareness about organ and tissue donation,” she said. “It’s not something people always think about. But organ and tissue donation are lifechanging.”
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.
