Knox High School graduate awarded a 2026 educational scholarship from Indiana Donor Network Foundation
June 15, 2026
KNOX, Ind. – Rylan Jordan grew up thinking she was the oldest of three children. She wasn’t. Rylan also thought she was her parents’ only daughter. But she wasn’t.
Leafing through some family photo albums at a younger age, Rylan noticed her parents holding a baby. They looked sad, she thought. That’s when Rylan’s parents told her that the baby in the photos was Rylan’s older sister.
Jessica was born on May 4, 2007. She died the same day from anencephaly, a severe birth defect where a baby is born without the main parts of their brain, skull, and scalp.
Over the years, Rylan’s parents shared with her their journey – how they researched everything they could in hopes of saving Jessica. How they decided to carry through with the pregnancy and deliver Jessica despite her terminal fate. And how they discovered that Jessica could be birthed and help heal lives through tissue donation.
“Donation for my parents felt like a way to make sense of their grief,” Rylan said. “Jessah donated cartilage and tissue. I think my parents are amazing for making their choice.”
Jordan, of Knox has been awarded a $10,000 educational scholarship from Indiana Donor Network Foundation.
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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 Roselyn Bounds of Huntingburg, Indiana ($7,500); Reagan Kurcinka of Fishers, Indiana ($5,000) and Raeleigh McCracken of Winslow, Indiana ($2,500).
The selfless act of donation runs in Rylan’s family. Her grandmother was a living kidney donor for her sister. Her aunt’s brother was a heart donor who saved a southern Indiana man’s life.
“My mom has said that everything happens for a reason, even if we do not understand the reason at the time,” she said.
At Knox High School, Rylan was an award-winning varsity volleyball and basketball player. She was inducted in the National Honor Society, vice president then president of her school’s Students Against Drunk Driving club and Student County class treasurer for four years. In her community, she was a volunteer at the annual Bass Lake Lions Club Pancake Breakfast, the Methodist Church’s food drive, American Red Cross blood drive and a concessions volunteer at her high school’s sports events
She will attend Saint Mary’s College this fall to study 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 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.
