In White County, young students are stepping up to make a difference, and one such leader is Aiden Vrotny, a senior at Twin Lakes High School. As President of the Youth Philanthropy Council (YPC), Aiden is helping to shape a brighter future for us all. His dedication to service and leadership is truly inspiring, showing us that the next generation is ready and eager to lead the way towards positive change.
Aiden joined the YPC in its inaugural semester in January of 2023 and since then, he has been instrumental in fostering connections beyond Twin Lakes High School. YPC members get a chance to connect with peers from all four county schools and think regionally on how grantmaking impacts us all. When asked about his favorite thing about the YPC, he shared, "I love the connections I have built with people outside of Twin Lakes, as well as learning how to organize and plan meetings and events."
As a youth leader, Aiden has a clear vision for the impact he hopes to make in White County. He expressed, "I really just want to help lead the youth of White County into a brighter tomorrow and do everything I can to make sure we are ready to enter the world as members of our community."
One of the YPC grants that Aiden is most excited about is the one supporting new shoes for the Twin Lakes show choir. Previous dancing shoes had been used by classes for over ten years, with straps being held together with bandages and soles remaining due to thick layers of duct tape, causing much caution for an accident. Being deeply involved in the arts at Twin Lakes, Aiden finds it special to witness the grant taking form right before his eyes.
In his free time, Aiden takes to the skies, flying out of Purdue's flight school. His passion for flying is evident, with about 25 hours of flight time logged and his commitment to pursuing Aerospace Engineering at Purdue University in the fall. When he’s not in the skies, Aiden can be found on the field leading the Spirit of Twin Lakes marching band or on the stage performing in a show.
Aiden's involvement in the YPC has not only taught him valuable skills but has also opened his eyes to the great things happening in his community. As he prepares to embark on his next journey at Purdue, Aiden remains a shining example of youth leadership and community service in White County.
Originally funded through a Regional Cultivation Fund grant from Wabash Heartland Innovative Network, the YPC is now developing fundraising efforts to sustain this program with an endowment… a fund to provide ever-growing support in the development of the next generation of leaders and philanthropists.
To learn how to support the YPC and their important mission, reach out to director, Lucy Dold at (574) 583-6911.