How the Navin Narayan Scholarship Has Affected Volunteers

Each year, the National Youth Council awards one exceptional high school senior Red Cross volunteer with an $1,000 scholarship, called the Navin Narayan College Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship is humbling, inspiring, and an incredible honor. Four previous winners shared their stories with the National Youth Council to inspire youth to continue their Red Cross journeys and apply for the scholarship. Winners, Melanie Nominaya (2015), Waverley He (2014), Aparna Ghosh (2009), and Mahati Tonk (2003), all share the same passion for the volunteering for the Red Cross and helping others.

The National Youth Council asked the winners a series of questions to learn more about their Red Cross journeys, including:

1. Can you tell us about your Red Cross story? 
2. How has the Navin Narayan Scholarship impacted your life? 
3. How do you see Red Cross being part of your future? 

Melanie Nomiya (2015 Winner)

1. Can you tell us about your Red Cross story?

I started volunteering for the South Bay Red Cross Chapter during my freshman year of high school, and since then I founded the Red Cross club at North High School where I served as co-president for the next three years. I became the Disaster Preparedness officer of the South Bay Red Cross executive board in 2013-2014 and was later elected as President in 2014-2015. I also became the South Bay team leader for the Greater Long Beach Chapter’s International Humanitarian Law Action Campaign, which was one of five winning teams in the nation to attend the Youth Leadership Summit at the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington D.C. in 2015. This past summer, I staffed the Red Cross LA Region’s Leadership Development Camp after being a delegate in 2014.

2. How has the Navin Narayan Scholarship impacted your life?

I remember at the South Bay Red Cross end-of-the-year banquet during my freshman year of high school, the executive board president, Siena Oberman, was awarded the Navin Narayan scholarship. I was so inspired from Siena’s accomplishments and commitment to the Red Cross that I was motivated to put forth my greatest effort into all the volunteering I did throughout the next 4 years of high school. This led to me develop a passion for service and empowering other high school youth. After reading Navin Narayan’s biography, I felt even more compelled to serve the world in the name of the Red Cross and in sheer humanity. And of course, I want to share Navin’s story as well.

3. How do you see Red Cross being part of your future?

I just finished my first quarter at UCLA, and I’m still adjusting to the college life. I joined the American Red Cross Club on campus and participated in general meetings and events such as Holiday Mail for Heroes. I plan on volunteering with the West LA Red Cross chapter next quarter and will continue staffing the LA Region Leadership Development Camp. I still continue to support the North High School Red Cross Club and South Bay Chapter by providing resources to the current officers, and I hope I can start mentoring high school Red Cross clubs in bigger ways soon!

Waverley He (2014 Winner)

1. Can you tell us about your Red Cross story?

I first began volunteering for Mountain View Red Cross Club as a high school freshman, and then went on to become the President of the Southwest Washington Red Cross Youth Council. Upon coming to college, I joined the Harvard Red Cross Club and became a First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor. I am now the National Youth Council YouthWire Editor and Harvard Red Cross Club Vice President.

2. How has the Navin Narayan Scholarship impacted your life?

Receiving the Navin Narayan Scholarship was humbling and inspiring for me. It opened my eyes to the different opportunities for service both within and outside of the Red Cross, and also led me to apply for the National Youth Council because I wanted to continue his legacy of recognition and accomplishment.

3. How do you see Red Cross being part of your future?

I will continue volunteering for the Red Cross in whichever ways I can! I plan to continue my term on the National Youth Council and spread awareness, preparedness, and safety within my community wherever I go.

Aparna Ghosh (2009 Winner)

1. Can you tell us about your Red Cross story?

I started my journey with the Red Cross as a youth volunteer in May 2005 and am excited to be coming up on my 10-year anniversary in a few months! I went from being a community youth volunteer at my local Chapter, to joining my college club and taking on leadership and advising other Red Cross youth, to assisting with the formation of the National Collegiate Assembly and joining the National Youth Council, to working with IHL Action Campaigns and International Services work. What first started as intrigue has since blossomed into a love for all things community service and I enjoy volunteering for all the different avenues of the Red Cross!

2. How has the Navin Narayan Scholarship impacted your life?

Receiving the Navin Narayan scholarship was a great achievement for me and inspired me to do even more for this great organization. The work that Navin Narayan did both within and outside the Red Cross is humbling and motivates me to find compassion and service in everything I do. The Red Cross has been an important part of my life and will continue to be forever

3. How do you see Red Cross being part of your future?

I will continue volunteering for the Red Cross in whatever capacity I can for the rest of my life. Currently, I’m working with the IHL Action Campaigns and promoting the Red Cross mission to youth in my community, and in the future, I can definitely see myself staying involved in these avenues as well as taking on other opportunities as they present themselves.

Mahati Tonk (2003 Winner)

1. Can you tell us about your Red Cross story?

Service to the Red Cross has been an important and incredibly fulfilling part of my life ever since I began volunteering with my local chapter in 8^th grade. In high school I served as president of the Central NJ Youth Council and went on to serve as a member of the National Youth Council while in college. After graduating from college, I founded and Chaired the American Red Cross National Young Professionals Council.

2. How has the Navin Narayan Scholarship impacted your life?

Navin was my inspiration for volunteering with the Red Cross. Although his life ended too soon, he was able to accomplish so much and positively impact so many people because he devoted himself to service. Receiving the Navin Narayan Scholarship was a huge honor for me and inspired me to strive to carry on his legacy of service through the Red Cross.

3. How do you see the Red Cross being part of your future?

I hope to be a Red Cross volunteer and donor for many years into the future. I’ve gained so much through my service to the Red Cross including leadership skills and an international Red Cross family. The organization will always be an important part of my life.

All of the winners of the Navin Narayan Scholarship value their fulfilling experience with the American Red Cross and have continued their involvement with the Red Cross.  The winners are driven, passionate, and involved youth that strive to positively affect the lives of other people.

You could be the next Navin Narayan Scholarship winner! Learn more about the eligibility requirements and apply by April 1^st, 2016!