Foundation Scholarship Recipient Andrew Ryan Sets His Focus on Political Science
Andrew Ryan
The Casey Feldman Foundation awarded one of two Springfield High School (SHS) scholarships to Andrew Ryan, a recent graduate. Andrew will be attending the University of Notre Dame in the fall and will be majoring in political science. He looks forward to making positive changes within society through his involvement in the government.
The foundation has been awarding annual scholarships at SHS, Casey’s alma mater, since 2010 and received about 50 applicants this year. When choosing the recipients of the scholarship, the foundation based their decision solely on the students’ answers to the essay question “Twenty years from now, where do you see yourself and what impact do you think your life will have had on others, your community or the world?”
In response to the question, Andrew said he sees himself serving in the United States Senate and representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He hopes to bring people together despite their political differences to solve common issues in society. He wrote, “I hope to demonstrate the impact of togetherness and unity to the people of the United States. At a time when many people see little progress as a result of divisions, I am inspired to make a difference in our country by focusing on the issues that can be resolved because there is a common concern about it amongst people from all walks of life.”
Dianne Anderson, co-founder of the Casey Feldman Foundation, said she was thrilled to have a candidate who showed an interest in civic engagement. “I love that Andrew wants to invigorate our nation’s youth and get them involved and recognizes the dangers of a society disinterested in government or politics,” Dianne said.
Andrew plans to gain more experience in political science by becoming involved in student government organizations and advocacy groups at the University of Notre Dame. His previous experience comes from SHS where he served as a class officer and vice president for the student council; a member, communications and report secretary and president for the Community Service Club; a member and captain for the Hi-Q Team; and a member and advocacy committee leader for the UNICEF Club.
In addition to his interest in politics, Andrew was also involved with the SHS yearbook and Springfield Theatre Workshop, similar to Casey. Andrew served as a staff member and the editor-in-chief for the yearbook and as a sound assistant and stage manager for the Springfield Theatre Workshop. He plans to continue his involvement in yearbook when he attends college.
From his experience in yearbook and theatre, Andrew said he has come to understand how people can come together to create something important. “This has given me a strong commitment to service in my life, and underscored the importance of working as a team to get something done,” Andrew wrote in his essay.
Apart from academics, Andrew has volunteered as a leadership intern for the Springfield School District Camp Invention, a member for the 2020 Victory Text Team for Biden for President and as a volunteer at the Springfield & Norwood Public Libraries.
Andrew’s hard work and involvement has helped him receive several awards, including the Springfield Lions Club Certificate of Recognition for Community Service, the Student Exemplary Volunteer Award, the 2022 All Delco Hi-Q Team, the AP Scholar with Distinction Award, the National Spanish Exam Bronze Medalist, the Rochester Institute of Technology Book Award, the Distinguished Honor Roll and several honor society awards.
As he prepares for life after high school, Andrew said he is ready to start working towards his goal of becoming a senator and making positive impacts on those around him.
SHS 2022 Scholarship Award Ceremony – Joel Feldman (L), co-founder of the Casey Feldman Foundation, Faith Dempsey, Andrew Ryan, Casey Feldman Foundation SHS scholarship recipient and Matt Thornton, SHS 06′ and Casey Feldman Foundation Board member who presented the awards
