We’re thrilled to announce the recipients of our 2024 scholarships: the Student Advocacy Scholarship and the HBCU Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation Advocacy Scholarship! 👏👏
In partnership with Hearts for Russ and Second Chance Fundraising, we awarded ten exceptional students with $1,000 scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year. These students have demonstrated excellence in academics, community engagement, and a passion for organ, eye, and tissue donation advocacy.
Each recipient hosted an advocacy event, bringing their creative ideas to life. From campus initiatives to impactful community outreach, their advocacy efforts inspired, educated, and encouraged their peers to register as donors.
Please join SODA National in congratulating the following scholarship recipients:
Aidan’s passion for organ, eye, and tissue donation began with his mother, who recently celebrated 11 years post double lung transplant. As the Founder and President of SODA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he continues to make a life-saving impact by educating and registering his peers. His “Donuts for Donors” scholarship event added six new donors to the registry and educated over 75 students about the importance of organ donation. Aidan recognizes the power of peer-to-peer education, and said he believes that his peers are more likely to engage in thought-provoking discussions about donation when the message comes from someone they can relate to. Through his advocacy efforts, he is building a lasting culture of donation advocacy on campus, one meaningful conversation at a time.
Kendon’s connection to organ donation is also personal. His mother donated a kidney to him in 2018 after he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Now a first-year medical student at the University of Utah School of Medicine, he’s working to make organ, eye, and tissue donation education a more prominent part of medical training. From tabling at a University of Utah women’s basketball game to organizing events with his local Organ Procurement Organization (OPO), DonorConnect, he’s creating opportunities for future medical professionals to learn about the value of donation. Looking ahead, Kendon is focused on expanding research initiatives, integrating donation advocacy into clinical spaces, and equipping future physicians with the knowledge to heal and save lives.
Jamellah Jackson hosted the “Gift of Tomorrow” event at Florida A&M University, focusing on raising awareness about organ, bone marrow, and stem cell donation. Partnering with LifeQuest and the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), Jamellah addressed the myths and mistrust surrounding donation in Black and African American communities. The event featured medical professionals who shared insights in the donation process, along with a tabling session where students could learn more about NMDP and how to get involved in future advocacy initiatives. Through this event, Jamellah helped break down barriers and encouraged her peers to end the cycle of medical mistrust in underserved communities.
Ziyan’s passion for organ donation stems from her experience as a heart transplant recipient after being born with a congenital heart defect. She first got involved with SODA in high school, and for her scholarship event, she tabled at Northeast Market in Baltimore with a fellow transplant recipient. They sparked conversations in their community, particularly within Black and African American populations, where transplant needs are high and donor registration rates are disproportionately low. Ziyan said a noteworthy moment was when she connected with a mother who was initially against donation but left their discussion with a new, more positive perspective. Ziyan is taking her advocacy even further by launching SODA at Johns Hopkins University, planning events, and working on policy initiatives to create a lasting impact.
Deanna was driven towards donation advocacy by her nursing background and personal experiences with family members on the transplant waiting list. For her scholarship event, she hosted a "Donuts for Donors" registration drive at Tuskegee University’s Bioethics Center, where she educated over 30 people about the importance of donation and dispelled common myths about the healthcare system. She said one of the most rewarding parts of her event was having a productive discussion with one of her peers who initially rejected organ donation, allowing her to provide information that clarified their misconceptions. Deanna successfully added six people to the donor registry, furthering her passion for encouraging others to make life-saving decisions.
Moriana’s experience supporting her aunt through a kidney transplant inspired her to organize a webinar highlighting the urgent need for organ donors, with a focus on Black and African American communities. Despite the challenges posed by medical mistrust, the event provided valuable insights in organ, eye, and tissue donation to 20 attentive participants. She also has plans to partner with LifeLink of Georgia to host an educational session and tabling event aimed at assisting with donor registration and raising awareness in the greater Savannah community. These efforts demonstrate Moriana’s ongoing commitment to addressing health disparities and engaging her school community in donation advocacy.
Julia is a heart transplant recipient and passionate advocate for organ donation, majoring in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Boulder. As President of her SODA chapter, she organized a successful registration drive on campus, where she and her team registered seven new donors and educated over 80 students. Julia’s chapter also hosts biweekly meetings with guest speakers, including transplant physicians, recipients, and nonprofit organizations. In addition to her advocacy work on campus, she is involved with her local Colorado State team and OPO, Donor Alliance. Through these efforts, Julia is raising awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation, both locally and statewide.
Talia hosted a "Bundt Out the Myths" advocacy event at Xavier University of Louisiana to educate her peers on the importance of organ donation, particularly within Black and African American communities. Aware of her university’s dominant STEM focus, Talia engaged in conversations about medical mistrust and health equity, aiming to dispel common myths about donation. She shared valuable facts about the benefits of donating, including the increased longevity of organ transplants when the donor and recipient share similar genetic backgrounds. Her event, held during finals week, included educational resources and a sweet treat to encourage students to take a break and converse. Through her advocacy efforts, Talia started meaningful conversations around the need for more Black and African American organ donors and raised awareness about the life-saving power of donation.
Jaliyah hosted an advocacy event at North Carolina A&T State University that raised awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation. Inspired by her sister’s heart surgery and experience on the transplant waiting list, she was driven to address the misconceptions and mistrust surrounding organ donation, particularly within Black and African American communities. At her event, Jaliyah debunked common myths and misconceptions, such as concerns about medical professionals not prioritizing a donor’s life based on their race. Using her personal brand, Sartorial Penny, she incentivized attendees with free apparel and successfully added over 60 people to the donor registry. Jaliyah’s commitment made a life-saving impact, fostering awareness and community engagement amongst her peers.
Nellie’s passion for organ donation advocacy began with her own transplant journey. In 2023, she learned she would need a kidney transplant but wasn’t yet eligible for the transplant list. After meeting the necessary criteria in 2024, she was placed on the waiting list and later received a life-saving kidney transplant from the mother of one of her life-long best friends. As President of SODA at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Nellie organized a successful scholarship event, adding 15 people to her chapter’s network, registering six new donors, and educating many more on the importance of donation. Through these advocacy efforts, Nellie is leveraging the power of storytelling to raise awareness for the life-saving power of donation.
To learn more about SODA’s scholarships and how current and incoming college students can apply, visit SODA's Scholarships Page.
A huge thank you to our Scholarship Sponsors, Hearts for Russ and Second Chance Fundraising, for their generous support and dedication to promoting student-led organ donation advocacy. This scholarship wouldn’t be possible without them and the incredible efforts of our Scholarship Selection Committees and OPO partners. Thank you for your continued support.
Congratulations again to our 2024 scholarship winners for educating and registering more people this past year than ever before in SODA’s history!
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