Congratulations to the 2020 Navin Narayan College Scholarship Recipient!
“The Red Cross is more than just a humanitarian organization. It’s a family united in serving others and alleviating suffering.” – Audrey Nguyen, 2020 Recipient of the Navin Narayan College Scholarship
Dedication. It is what motivates and mobilizes over 500,000 volunteers and 35,000 employees to support the Red Cross mission. It is also what has driven Audrey Nguyen along her now four-year journey with the Red Cross.
Audrey has been awarded the Navin Narayan College Scholarship for her academic excellence and outstanding work with the Red Cross. Both a Rhodes Scholar and a Harvard graduate, Navin Narayan was a perfect example of scholastic achievement and dedicated volunteerism. He served many roles with the American Red Cross, including Chair of the National Youth Council. Tragically, Navin succumbed to cancer at the age of 23. Since 2001, the National Youth Council has honored his legacy through the Navin Narayan College Scholarship, which is awarded to one high school senior each year who embodies Navin’s core values.
Audrey’s volunteering story began in her sophomore year when she joined her high school, DeBakey High School for Health Professions’, Red Cross Club. Inspired by the Red Cross’s mission, she quickly sought out opportunities to become more involved within the organization. Since then, Audrey has taken on leadership roles such as the President of her high school’s club, the Field Ambassador for the Texas Gulf Coast Region (TGCR), and the Executive Chair of the TGCR Youth Service Council (YSC). Currently, she serves as the advisor for the TGCR YSC and the Communications Working Group Lead on the National Youth Council.
One of Audrey’s favorite Red Cross memories is her high school’s biannual blood drives. “Organizing the events is fun in and of itself. What makes these blood drives even more fulfilling, though, is actually participating in them and seeing firsthand how they impact the community.”
Regarding getting more involved with the Red Cross, Audrey believes initiative is key. “Youth shouldn’t be afraid of going out of their comfort zones and establishing precedents. Even if there aren’t certain opportunities in your area or region, fell free to make some of your own!”
This fall, Audrey will be attending the University of Houston as part of a combined medical program with Baylor College of Medicine, where she is majoring in Honors Biomedical Sciences and minoring in Medicine and Society. In addition to joining her school’s Red Cross Club, she plans to work with her local chapter to restructure the collegiate system in hopes of increasing engagement at the university level. Although all Red Cross activities will be online until further notice, Audrey sees this time as an opportunity to further promote and expand outreach for the Red Cross on various virtual platforms. Audrey aims to be a physician in the future, but for the time being, she is excited about exploring and experiencing what college life has to offer. Outside of school and her work with the Red Cross, she loves to cook and bake, play the piano, and make arts and crafts.
Thank you for your dedication to the Red Cross, Audrey. We wish you the best of luck in college and beyond!
