When Loie Greenwood of Gahanna dropped off his application for the John H. McConnell scholarship at Nationwide Arena it was a Blue Jackets game day. People were everywhere and the 18-year-old didn't even know if he gave his paperwork to the right person. But a few months later, Greenwood and Columbus' Anita Ferguson are the proud recipients of this year's scholarship.
The John H. McConnell scholarship was established in 2008 to honor the life and legacy of the Jackets' founder. And it's not a traditional academic award. While both Ferguson and Greenwood heard about the opportunity from their guidance counselors, there was something different about the McConnell opportunity.
"A lot of scholarships nowadays are just about merit, your ACT score, and what you've done in the classroom," Greenwood said. "This one is more about who you are as a person."
Designed to find individuals who personified McConnell's trademarks of hard work, perseverance, leadership and community involvement, the scholarship, a lengthy application and interview process revealed two young adults personifying McConnell's legacy locally and internationally.
Greenwood, who will be attending Wittenberg University this fall, plans to continue honing a leadership style that he has developed through years of volunteerism, participating in speech and debate, and his sport of choice - baseball.
McConnell always espoused living by "the Golden Rule" and for Greenwood that means not only being kind to one another but having the strength to challenge others to be better. While Greenwood is someone who will leave an encouraging note for the student to next sit at a desk in a classroom, he's also the leader who will find a constructive way to let someone know how they need to change to excel.
"Coming from sports where I've gotten that blunt feedback, what better way to get better than hearing what you need to do," Greenwood said. "But I also understand not everyone is like me. Leading people is give and take. Sometimes you need to start out slow, help people understand what they need to do and give them a couple chances to improve."
Greenwood's approach seems to be working. Of his many community projects, one he finds most satisfying experiences has been "GahannaThon" - a dance marathon he helps organize that raises funds and awareness for pediatric cancer. The first year the program raised $8,000, last year's effort raised $22,500.
Additionally, Greenwood has been invited to participate in a local TED talk and plans to continue speaking as he pursues a pre-law degree at college.
While Greenwood seeks to exemplify McConnell's legacy by showing that "putting your heart and mind into education, community and kindness will allow for opportunities," Ferguson is seeking to help take McConnell's message around the world as well.
Ferguson regularly travels to her home country of Guatemala to volunteer at an orphanage with her grandmother. It was during a visit when Ferguson was 12, that a young cancer patient staying at the facility changed the life. After forging a special bond, when the child became sick, and the orphanage was short of medications, Ferguson sprung into action.
"I remember thinking 'how could something like this happen to such an innocent child?" Ferguson wrote in her scholarship application. "I knew my grandmother had a supply of medications...I asked if she would help me and we returned within the hour."
Not only did Ferguson end up providing the antibiotic the child needed, she found her purpose. Upon returning to full health, the young patient said "you are going to be a great doctor."
Now, fluent in both Spanish and English, Ferguson volunteers at a clinic in Delaware in service of Hispanic patients and she makes annual mission trips to Guatemala with her church in addition to the trips she makes with her family. She is currently on a ten-day trip with a group of 25 other volunteers.
"We're going to continue to build on to the orphanage and have a women's ministry where we meet with elderly women, and teen moms," Ferguson said. "Different things take place each night and we have a bible school for the children. We have dance recitals, and soccer outreach."
The middle of five children, Ferguson - who will attend Ohio Dominican University - is thankful to have the McConnell scholarship as she strives to serve her community and her family while pursuing her dream. Her goal is to participate in Doctors Without Borders while building a medical practice as a Hispanic pediatrician.
"I hope to touch as many people as possible but it's not about how I touch them, they really warm my heart every time," Ferguson said. "It's them that teach me and touch my life and inspire me."
As Ferguson and Greenwood begin the next chapter of their lives, they are also both thankful to have formed a connection to McConnell's legacy.
"I read about John H. McConnell - that he was a very admired man and everyone loved him as soon as they met him," Ferguson said. "He lived by the golden rule and that especially has touched me."
