Fall 2026 Winner of the Community Impact Scholarship

Peyton Edberg

Peyton is the newest winner of the $2,500 Community Impact Scholarship. In Peyton’s essay, you learn of her lifelong dedication to community service, totaling over 400 hours. Her experiences in service and Peer Court have inspired her to study Social Policy at Northwestern University and pursue lasting change through both community involvement and public policy.

Read Their Essay Here:

Philanthropy is a core personal pillar that I am committed to continuing throughout my life. I came to this realization during 400 hours of community service in high school. Leading philanthropic endeavors that focused support for underrepresented communities was my passion, including: Beyond Blindness, Homefront America, Laura’s House, Family Assisted Ministries, and other non-profits committed to overcoming disability, situational, and socioeconomic-centered inequalities. While the real reward comes from the intrinsic positive feeling I have when lifting others up, my service has been recongized with the honors of The President's Volunteer Service Award and The Congressional Award.

One of my greatest experiences has been at GiGi's Playhouse, A Down Syndrome Achievement Center. I began volunteering at my local playhouse when it opened in 2022, running monthly social events to foster belonging. Federal support for individuals with Down syndrome (rooted in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) comes to an abrupt halt at age 21 and, even then, support is mostly limited to the classroom. GiGi’s Playhouse provides essential, free extracurricular opportunities for all ages to address this legislative gap. While I enjoyed hosting monthly social nights, I was eager to make a bigger impact. After meeting with the Site Manager, I learned that the playhouse lacked a fitness program. We assessed that Dr. Mann’s physical-therapy-based exercises would be a perfect fit to improve hypotonia and joint stability among this specific population. A weekly class could offer crucial development opportunities to participants, so I took on the responsibility of training, introducing a pilot program, leading weekly classes for two years, and now transitioning leadership to the next volunteer coach as I move away to college.

I launched GiGiFIT Teen in the summer of 2024. At first, it was chaotic. Many GiGi’s Playhouse events are social and intentionally loosely structured, so it was difficult to maintain participants’ focus throughout the workout regimen. However, adding an icebreaker at the beginning to separate social time from workout time helped increase focus during exercise. When this program began, I developed easier modifications for each exercise so participants could follow along. Now, after two years of consistent coaching, I have introduced resistance bands and weights to increase the difficulty from the national standard! To say I am proud is an understatement. I am impressed by the growth of each participant and the impact I had through weekly connections and service. In fact, when members of the Texas Rangers baseball team visited the playhouse, the Volunteer Coordinator requested that I showcase a GiGiFIT Teen class as a flagship example of the playhouse’s programming. I am grateful for my role in acquiring awareness and media presence for this nonprofit. The relationships that developed have been powerful and I’ve celebrated significant life activities there including teaching class on my eighteenth birthday, and my boyfriend giving me my prom-posal there with the help of participants!

Another significant service opportunity I engaged in was blood drives. After donating blood and platelets myself, I wanted to do more for this life-saving cause. So, I hosted two blood drives for the American Red Cross during seasonal shortages. Admittedly, I did not realize how many obstacles I would face, and I learned about perseverance during this time. For the first drive, the venue I booked months in advance backed out at the last minute, and I had to quickly pivot and secure a parking area for a massive blood-mobile instead. A week before the event, donor sign-ups were desperately lacking, so I went door-to-door to recruit donors and encouraged timid peers with my own personal donation stories, inspiring them to give. Ultimately, both blood drives exceeded the American Red Cross’ goals, saving about 200 lives in total.

This fall, I will study Social Policy at Northwestern University, exploring the intersection of hands-on philanthropy and legislative action. I began to understand this intersection in high school when serving as a juror on Peer Court, where I recommended rehabilitative sanctions to juveniles who admitted to misdemeanors as an alternative to the traditional punitive system. In this role, I strove to understand the offender, consider their unique situation, and recommend sanctions to set them on a positive track. Twice, I served as jury foreperson, facilitating the discussion and presenting the decision to the judge, defendant, and legal guardian. This experience reaffirmed my commitment to supporting underrepresented communities through service and legal action.

As I plan for my future, I know I will find fulfillment by promoting inclusion and supporting my community through hands-on service and judicial and legislative change. Philanthropy and government action are powerful tools to shape a stronger, more equitable nation. Through these two paths, combined with the fiery spirit of giving, I believe we can create the space and opportunities everyone needs to thrive.