Vignesshwar (Vignesh) Viswanathan, winner of a $1,000 American Red Cross Leaders Save Lives scholarship, was born in India, and his family moved to the United States when he was in first grade. The transition was eased by his supportive parents, both engineers, and by the close-knit Hindu community in the area.

Vignesh is now a junior at Lafayette High School (LHS) in Wildwood, Missouri, which U.S. News & World Report ranks as the #5 high school in the state. He holds a cumulative 4.8 GPA, speaks three languages, belongs to the national mathematics honor society (Mu Alpha Theta), and is currently taking AP courses in Biology, Chemistry, Government and Politics, Statistics, English Literature and Composition, and Comparative Government and Politics.

Although academically gifted, Vignesh’s passion for helping others is equally central to who he is. He has served for many years in the youth wing of the Murugan Temple, where he has organized and led food drives, clothing drives, and fundraising efforts to build a new temple. Beyond that, Vignesh has volunteered with multiple charitable organizations: walking with athletes with disabilities, tutoring younger students in math, teaching English and math to elementary-age children, and providing emotional support to terminally ill patients.

Vignesh is also the co-founder of two 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Heart of the Lou is dedicated to uplifting underserved communities in the St. Louis area, while STEM for All works to expand access to STEM education for underrepresented youth.

One of the most defining moments in Vignesh’s life occurred during his freshman year. While exploring possible career paths, he and his science classmates watched a video on human anatomy. In that moment, Vignesh knew he wanted to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. “I just knew immediately that I would love to do this, and I'd be really good at it,” he recalled. Since then, he has actively pursued that goal: taking an Introduction to Surgery course through Johns Hopkins University, participating in a hands-on surgical simulation workshop at Washington University, and shadowing a critical care physician. He has also been a committed member of the Future Health Professionals organization, earning top honors in several competitions.

Despite his focus on medicine, Vignesh continues to nurture his creative and technical interests. He contributes to the LHS robotics team, participates in Future Business Leaders of America, and even competes in solving Rubik’s Cubes. “I can solve a cube in as little as 22 seconds,” he said with a grin.

For Vignesh, conducting a Red Cross Leaders Save Lives blood drive was a natural extension of his commitment to service. Upon learning that he had won the scholarship, he said, “I feel incredibly honored and grateful. Winning this scholarship is both an encouragement and a reminder that hard work and community service matter. It motivates me to continue making a positive impact while pursuing my education.” Reflecting on the experience, he added, “I gained experience in how to be a leader and to take action toward a cause I am passionate about.”

Vignesh encourages other students to take on the challenge as well: “Hosting a blood drive is one of the most impactful ways students can directly save lives. It’s a chance to come together as a community, show leadership, and inspire others to give back. Even one donation can make a difference, and organizing a drive creates a ripple effect of generosity and hope.”

Vignesh is an extraordinary blend of compassionate collaboration, intellectual curiosity, creativity, and commitment to excellence. These qualities make Vignesh not only a deserving recipient of the Red Cross Leaders Save Lives scholarship but also a living model of the American Red Cross’ five core values: Compassion, Collaboration, Creativity, Credibility, and Commitment. As Albert Schweitzer beautifully put it, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”

Thank you, Vignesh, for providing a real-life example of our values.