Fresno State freshman Sophia Riser was named the victor of the yearly Paul DeRuosi Memorial Community Service Scholarship. The assistance is awarded annually to a pupil who exemplifies the committedness to work that DeRuosi championed during his distinguished 31-year vocation astatine Fresno State.
Contributing implicit 500 hours of unpaid enactment successful the past year, Riser, a biology major, made a lasting interaction successful her community. Beginning her work travel arsenic a child, Riser has agelong been passionate astir giving back. From organizing donation drives and tutoring students to supporting children successful hospitals, her enactment has spanned galore initiatives aimed astatine uplifting youth.
As a freshman astatine University High connected the Fresno State campus, she overcame the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by creating integer cards for archetypal responders, infirmary patients and seniors and contributing to the World Food Program’s Freerice initiative.
As organizations reopened, Riser expanded her work efforts, tutoring students, knitting hats for wintertime donation drives and co-founding the Kindness Expo, which led to the postulation of implicit 1,000 books for section simple schools. Her dedication to literacy continued done her unpaid enactment with the Fresno County Library, wherever she encouraged young readers and assisted with acquisition programs.
One of her astir impactful roles has been astatine Valley Children’s Hospital, wherever Riser serves arsenic a Patient Pal, NICU Cuddler and adjacent helps with the hospital’s beloved George the Giraffe. As a erstwhile diligent battling a chronic illness, Riser said she profoundly understands the value of anticipation and joyousness for hospitalized children. “As idiosyncratic who has experienced the struggles of chronic unwellness firsthand, I cognize however overmuch tiny moments of kindness tin mean,” Riser said. “Being capable to springiness back, particularly to children who are facing hardships, is my mode of passing connected the anticipation that others erstwhile gave me.”
Beyond the hospital, Riser has go a campy counsellor for California Boys and Girls State, helping students larn astir enactment and government. Her continued dedication to work exemplifies her ngo to make lasting alteration for aboriginal generations.
Upon learning that she won the Paul DeRuosi Memorial Community Service Scholarship, Riser said, “I americium truthful grateful to transportation connected Mr. DeRuosi’s bequest arsenic this year’s recipient of the memorial scholarship. Having the accidental to springiness backmost to my assemblage with the enactment of Fresno State is an unthinkable honor, and I look guardant to being capable to proceed those efforts portion encouraging volunteerism among others.”
(Story by Taylan Parker, Richter Center)
