Taylor Emmons Scholarship Recipient

2012: Sierra VanSuch

We are excited to announce that Sierra VanSuch is our fund’s second recipient of a four-year scholarship to The Out-of-Door Academy.

Sierra is heavily involved in her community and possesses many wonderful qualities and talents. She is an A student, actively involved with area science programs, and plays volleyball and basketball.

More about Sierra VanSuch:

  • School Student Body President
  • Straight A+ student working 2 years above her grade level in math and one year in vocabulary
  • Earned the highest score of any incoming 9th grader on the SSAT
  • Captain of the school basketball and volleyball teams and plays tennis.
  • Plays Clarinet in band
  • Many accolades at school include but not limited to; school science fair winner 2 years and placed at county, spelling bee winner, Math Counts Competition Team participant & 8th grade captain, school record holder for the last 3 years for reciting digits of Pi by memory; this year she made it to 2109 decimal places. Her math teacher believes she is the only one her age to accomplish this many digits in the country. She has been interviewed by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and articles have been written about her in The Observer with the most recent dating March 29th 2012.
  • Started and headed up Helping Hands, a community service group with friends and their parents helping various organizations and charities locally and globally
  • Every other Monday helps pack food for the Warren Backpack Program to help feed the hungry
  • Nominated by heads of school and attended the Junior National Young Leaders Conference two years in a row in Washington, DC and Boston and will attend the National Young Leaders State Conference in Ft Lauderdale this summer.
  • Sierra has donated her hair to Locks of Love at least five times.

Sierra is a kind hearted, gentle soul and never has an unkind word to say about others. She is loved by all who know her. She is quiet until she gets to know you but once she feels comfortable with you she has a great sense of humor. She never has to be pushed to do extra; she puts more pressure on herself to be the best she can be than she needs too. Sierra had many wonderful people she looks up to step forward and want to write recommendations for her for the scholarship. From heads of school, teachers, and clergy, the theme is always the same, Sierra is an exceptional child.

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“We are very proud to have Sierra representing Taylor, our family and ODA.  None of this would have been possible without your generosity and love. Thank you for helping us keep Taylor’s legacy alive and for allowing Sierra this wonderful and deserving opportunity,”  - Mike Emmons

“That's the best news I've read in a long time! Sierra is already an inspiration and she has barely just started... imagine what's to come! Taylor is proud and smiling for the legacy you've created in his honor.  Even if you don't believe this, I have to say it... Taylor is more alive in heaven than any of us can imagine.  He will forever be young, beautiful and is perfectly loved. He is not alone and he is the pure love and grace that makes miracles happen for kids like Sierra. Thanks for sharing the news- I will smile all day because of it!” -Elizabeth Baillie