University of Southern Indiana, Southridge High School graduate awarded a 2026 educational scholarship from Indiana Donor Network Foundation
June 15, 2026
HUNTINGBURG, Ind. – When she was 14, Roselyn Bounds’ father was suffering from kidney failure. “I didn’t understand the medical terminologies. But I understood fear,” she remembers. “I saw the exhaustion on my father’s face after treatments. I felt the quiet tension in our home when test results didn’t improve.”
The family’s future, Roselyn remembers, once felt predictable but suddenly felt fragile when her father needed a new kidney to survive. Roselyn’s father received that lifesaving gift in 2022 – from her uncle as a living donor.
“My freshman year of high school was when I learned what it means to watch someone you love fight for their life – and what it means to witness living organ donation up close,” she said.
Living organ donation is an extraordinary act of love, Roselyn said. While many transplant stories involve waiting for an anonymous call, hers involved a family member who willingly stepped forward and underwent major surgery not because he had to but because he wanted his brother to live.
“My uncle’s decision was not impulsive. It was intentional, informed and selfless,” she said. “He never sought praise. He simply said, ‘That’s what family does.’”
Bounds, of Huntingburg has been awarded a $7,500 educational scholarship from Indiana Donor Network Foundation.
> Download a high-resolution of Bounds
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.
This year, $25,000 was awarded in scholarships, made possible due to the generosity of financial contributions made by Indiana Donor Network employees and supporters of Indiana Donor Network Foundation.
Those selected as scholarship recipients have a personal connection to donation, either to someone whose life was saved when they received a transplant or to a loved one who became an organ and tissue donor. Scholarship winners often become advocates for donation by helping raise awareness and support in their communities.
Other 2026 scholarship recipients include Rylan Jordan of Knox, Indiana ($10,000); Reagan Kurcinka of Fishers, Indiana ($5,000) and Raeleigh McCracken of Winslow, Indiana ($2,500).
Roselyn’s experience reshaped her values and clarified her goals, she said. “I gained a deep appreciation for resilience. My father endured dialysis and uncertainty with strength. My uncle underwent surgery without hesitation. Their example taught me that love is not just something you say. It is something you demonstrate through action.”
It also profoundly influenced her educational path. During countless hospital visits, she remembers paying close attention to the nurses who cared for her father and uncle. They monitored medications, educated her family about anti-rejection drugs and offered reassurance. One nurse took the time to explain the transplant process to Roselyn in a way she could understand.
“She spoke with compassion and patience, recognizing that I was a teenager in the corner and a daughter trying to make sense of something overwhelming,” Roselyn said. “In that moment, I saw the power of nursing. They are educators, advocates and steady presences during life’s most uncertain moments.”
At Southridge High School in Huntingburg, Roselyn was Spirit Club president and vice president of Business Professionals of America. She was a member of the National Honor Society and president of the School Council her senior year. In her community, Roselyn volunteered for the Dubois County Animal Shelter and Mentors for Youth. She was a member of Redemption Christian Church’s youth group and Health Occupations Students of America.
Today, she attends University of Southern Indiana, studying to be a nurse. She also works part-time at Deaconess Memorial Medical Center in Evansville.
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 more than 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.
