Padriac Routa Memorial Scholarship

As soon as I see a problem, I immediately begin to imagine solutions. This is not because I feel pressure to innovate or solve everything, but because I know one of those ideas can spark real change. Creativity and entrepreneurship have always been the ways I make sense of the world. As I’ve grown up, I’ve come to realize that the most meaningful ideas are the ones that are going to benefit other people, especially those who feel overlooked. This belief has shaped who I am today and who I want to continue to be in the future. My biggest dream is to create a nonprofit organization focused on supporting families who are struggling with the emotional and financial burdens of major health issues or crises. This goal is personal to me after losing two young family members to sudden cardiac death. This made me hyper aware of how fragile life is and how desperately people need help that isn’t available. Watching the people I love have to focus on struggles that shouldn’t even be on their mind gave me a purpose. I want to build something that makes even the worst experiences feel a little less isolating for others. A nonprofit organization could accomplish all of that and more. It would not be just another organization; it would be a commitment to show up for other people when they’re at their lowest. But I don’t want to wait to start making a positive change in the world until sometime in the distant future. I’ve already begun using creativity and entrepreneurship to contribute now. Last year, I developed an app designed to improve student attendance at all school-sanctioned events. I noticed how sports like football and basketball would get a big turnout of students, but then I would go to an art show or drama production and no one would show up. I thought it was important to support our fellow classmates in all activities, which is why I created the reward-based app for students who support each other. After troubleshooting and launching a few tester apps, I was finally able to launch the app district-wide. Over the next year, we saw over a 23% increase in student attendance at all school-sanctioned events. Despite the difficult designing process, this experience taught me that entrepreneurship can be successful even without all the answers. You just have to put in the time and effort and be willing to adapt. With this mindset, anyone can be a successful entrepreneur. Creating this app was a prime example that innovation can start anywhere. In my case, it was one student with one crazy idea. It also made me come to the realization of how much I enjoy building resources that serve a community. I want to carry this mindset into my future career in business. I’ll be able to pair the strategic knowledge I’ll gain in college with the passion I already have for creating helpful solutions. Whether I’m creating a nonprofit or designing a new technology, I want my work to make other people feel supported. Overall, I know I can make a difference in this world by combining my compassion with creativity. Pursuing entrepreneurship gives me the freedom to imagine what could exist to make this world the best it can be. I know I’ve done something meaningful if I can use my ideas to support others. This is the impact I want to spend my life creating.

One morning, I was sanding and painting walls at a construction site, and my hands were covered in white house paint. By evening, those same hands were carefully layering oil paint for a study of Van Gogh. For a while, I struggled to make sense of these two parts of my life. I wondered if I was an artist, an entrepreneur, or just someone incapable of focusing on one path. I worried that to be successful, I had to choose one and let the rest die. However, I eventually realized that being interested in so many different things isn’t a weakness; it’s actually my biggest advantage. Construction taught me that real work is messy and hard, but you have to be patient if you want the final result to look good. Fine art taught me observation and storytelling. Entrepreneurship gave me the tools to turn those stories into action. Today, I don’t see these paths as separate. I see them as an innovative way to make a difference in the world. Visual art is my primary form of expression. Whether working in oil, ink, or acrylic, I use my work to explore the world around me. This passion has pushed me to compete at the highest levels, placing in the Battle of the Teal, earning a Silver Key from the Scholastic Art Awards and participating in national programs like YoungArts and Sony World Photography. Exhibiting at venues like the Pivot Center for Arts and Lorain County Community College taught me that art is a powerful bridge; it can start conversations and connect strangers. But I also saw a problem: many talented artists around me lacked the social support and business knowledge to make their passion a sustainable career. This realization led me to the Youth Entrepreneur Market. There, I didn't just sell products; I learned how creativity functions in the real world. I handled everything from product development and packaging to customer feedback and deadlines. It taught me that entrepreneurship is just another form of creativity. It requires the same “blank canvas" thinking to solve a problem or build a brand. My drive to lead was further shaped by my community. As a Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador and a mentor at Camp Wise, I learned that leadership isn't about authority; it’s about empathy and accountability. Whether I am comforting a nervous donor or helping a shy camper find their confidence, I am practicing the same skills needed to run a business: listening, earning trust, and showing up for others. Everything clicked during the Miami University entrepreneurship program. I saw how my artistic mindset allowed me to think outside the box, while business strategy gave me the framework to execute those ideas. I realized that my goal isn't just to be an artist, but to be an innovator who changes how we value the arts. I don’t think you should have to choose between being an artist and being able to pay your bills. I want to use my business degree to market my own work, but I also want to help other young artists in Ohio who have the talent but don’t know anything about the business side of art. By combining creativity with the hard work I’ve put in at construction sites and the entrepreneurship market, I hope to help Ohio artists really thrive. I want to create spaces where artists can actually get their work seen and flourish. I want to prove that if you have the right tools and a little bit of drive, you can turn your imagination into a real career.

Last year, I was asked to help out with Junior Leadership of Medina County (JrLMC). The summer sun beat down on me as I crouched uncomfortably, paintbrush in hand. For a moment, I wondered why exactly I had agreed to the request. But as an alumnus of JrLMC, I wanted to support the incoming class of juniors. For me, the leadership experience was memorable and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I wanted the new students to have just as much fun as I did. My contribution was painting black-and-white wildlife outlines onto rain barrels. Every year, the students paint them in, like a special coloring book. Using my passion for art to make an impact on my community was immensely fulfilling. I was able to spread positivity and build connections with other volunteers; I used my passion for art to benefit others and enjoyed every second of it. Outside of this experience, I am involved with the MHS Art Club. I have taken art classes for as long as I can remember, some local, some at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and others at the Cleveland Institute of Art. As a whole, the Ohio art community has been extremely supportive and beneficial to me. Artists tend to be some of the most open-minded and diverse people, allowing me to learn a lot about the world and myself. I have forged connections with peers and instructors from all walks of life. Being in such a special community has made me more compassionate, introspective, and resilient. I cannot adequately express my gratitude, but I can do my best to return the favor. To leave a lasting impact on my community, I am creating a student-operated art gallery at Medina High School. This senior capstone project has required significant fundraising, ongoing preparation, and numerous meetings. My intention is not only to establish the space, but to create a guide for future students to assemble their own gallery shows. They will be able to transform the gallery into whatever they want it to be. By passing it on to the Art Club leaders, I hope to leave a legacy that stretches far beyond my high school graduation. The act of creation can be a sanctuary and conversation starter for both the artist and the viewer. It positively impacts mental wellbeing, draws people together, and teaches valuable lessons. I have a lot to say through my artwork, but instead of focusing on hardships, I depict my happiest moments. I paint my friends, replicate fun summer nights, and use self-portraits to reflect on my personal growth. Each piece I create begins with a feeling rather than a concept. From there, I contemplate what subjects will draw that particular emotion out of me. After establishing a composition, I use anything from colored pencils and oil pastels to acrylic paint and ink. I create my pieces on diverse surfaces like fabric or even window blinds. There is nothing I will not try at least once, as trying new things keeps me on my toes. I intend to use my artwork, time, and skill to uplift others for the entirety of my artistic career.