Just before the 2020 winter holiday break, Rotarians heard from Dr. Philip Ballinger, special advisor to for the University of Washington's Presidential Scholars Initiative. At the time, Rotarians asked to be able to support the program and to be kept abreast of its development. Dr. Ballinger provided the club a window into the program through the eyes of one of the new scholars, Makenna Schwab. This is Makenna's story:Hi, my name is Makenna Schwab, nice to meet you. Currently, I am absolutely honored to be a freshman at the University of Washington and a Presidential Scholar. But it has been a long journey to get to this point.
My journey began, when I was diagnosed with a rare bone and tissue disorder called Larsen’s syndrome, which manifested in many dislocated joints present at birth. Because of this condition, much of my early years were spent at Seattle Children’s Hospital. I had many procedures including serial casting and surgeries, and the hospital became my second home. My doctors and nurses were family, and my life was changed forever by the love and care I received.
I have a vivid memory, of driving home from the hospital at the age of 8, when I felt an overwhelming desire to give back to the organization that had made it possible for me to live an independent and productive life. Being young, I asked my mom if I could have a bake sale and give the money we raised to the hospital. On Make A Difference Day (the national day of service) with the help of family, friends, and a very supportive community, we raised over $6,000 for Seattle Children’s Uncompensated Care Fund. That day changed my life forever.
I was hooked; volunteering became a piece of who I am. We did a project every year after that. From toy drives to packs of food for inpatient families (MakPaks), I got to work with the care team that had given me so much to find ways to improve the already incredible care at the hospital. The projects even raised funds for a low-radiation x-ray machine for kids like me that need constant x-rays.
In 2015, the projects received the National Make A Difference Day Award for our project that collected Red Radio Flyer Wagons. Red Radio Flyer Wagons were my first mode of transportation. Whether I was in serial casts or attached to an IV, I could always go for a ride in a red wagon. Plus, wagons are a lot less scary than a wheelchair.
In 2016, the game changed. I decided to take the plunge and form an official non-profit called the Makspire Foundation. Makspire is Makenna + Inspire, and it’s an opportunity to continue doing what I love. The goal of the Makspire Foundation is to help and support kids and families facing serious medical conditions like my family and I walked through together. Since then, Makspire has supported organizations that help those families and patients like Make-A-Wish AK & WA, who granted me a wish, and Camp Korey, a camp for kids with life altering medical conditions, which I attended for 10 years.
Now, I’m 19 years old. A freshman in college at the University of Washington, and the question of the never-ending hour is, ‘Makenna, what are you going to do with your life?’. Honestly, I don’t know exactly what the future holds, but currently I’m on track to pursue a major in Communications and pursue UW’s new leadership minor. Hopefully, after college, I will be on track for graduate school and pursuing a career in non-profit fundraising to continue doing what I love. Being a Presidential Scholar at the UW has been an incredible blessing. I’ve been able to focus on school, while still maintaining my passion for volunteering, without the stress of a job or paying for college. The honor of being part of this program has allowed me to be successful in both important areas of my life, and I am truly grateful for this opportunity. I’m excited to see all that is to come in my next few years at the University of Washington and then some.
Rotarians can continue to support this initiative and its students by doing two things: First, help identify such students. Second, spread the word. For more information about the Presidential Scholars Initiative at the University of Washington, see: https://www.washington.edu/boundless/presidential-scholars/ or feel free to contact Philip Ballinger at philipba@uw.edu."