Ryan Fischer Legacy Scholarship
The Purpose of the Award:
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To REMEMBER and honor the life of Ryan Fischer and all he stood for through his strong faith in God, his passion for his country, his unconditional love for all others and his zeal to live life to its fullest.
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TO ENCOURAGE AND CHALLENGE ALL Grandville student athletes to live a life that represents the integrity, character and sportsmanship that Ryan displayed in all facets of his life.
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To RECOGNIZE one Grandville Varsity Athlete (male or female) that displays characteristics that best reflects Ryan's life.
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To ESTABLISH and promote a standard for all amateur athletes.
The award will be known as the "Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy Award" and will be a one-time college scholarship to the school of the recipient's choice. The value of the scholarship will be based on the assets available. The name of the recipient will also be placed on a permanent plaque in Grandville High School.
The award will be presented each spring at the Grandville High School Spring Sports Award Banquet.
Criteria:
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Senior in High School with a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA
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Accepted to an accredited college or university and enrolled by October 1st following his/her high school graduation - Scholarship made payable to university only
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Must have lettered in one varsity sport in which the MHSAA sponsors a post season tournament.
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Must be of high moral character, demonstrate a strong faith in God, a love for this country and be committed to community service.
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Must also demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship, exceptional leadership, integrity and a positive attitude towards all individuals.
The goal of the Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy Scholarship committee is to establish an endowment fund capable of sustaining the scholarship for an indefinite period.
See Sue Mattice in the Grandville High School Guidance office for an informative brochure.
Click on the icons below to download the scholarship guidelines and application.
We are pleased to announce the recipient of the Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy Scholarship for 2023 is Brayden LaCroix. Brayden earned Varsity letters in baseball and football for Grandville High School. He was a member of the Diamonds Travel Baseball organization and earned many accolades in his Grandville career, including 1st Team All-Conference, All-District honors his sophomore season and 1st Team All-Conference, All-Area, and 2nd Team All-State honors his junior season. He plans to continue his baseball career at Lansing Community College, focusing his studies on pre-chiropractic.
Brayden’s strong work ethic and determination in baseball and football carries over into various leadership positions in school, community, and volunteer experiences. He is a member of the National Honor Society, volunteers in elementary classrooms throughout the year, and serves as a student advisor on the School Improvement team. In 2021, he was nominated to represent Grandville High School at the National Student Leadership Conference, and in 2023, Brayden was nominated as a delegate to represent the State of Michigan at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders.
Beyond his achievements, Brayden is committed to being a leader of character. He is recognized for displaying integrity, compassion, and promoting inclusion of others on the field, in the classroom, and in the halls of Grandville High School. In his application, he states: “Ryan Fischer left a lasting legacy of inspiring others to strive towards greatness while aspiring to be an amazing person with impeccable character.” We have no doubt that Brayden is leaving a similar legacy at GHS. Congratulations, Brayden!
2023 Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy
Scholarship Award Recipient
Braydon LaCroix
2022 Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy
Scholarship Award Recipient
Ross VanBlois
We are proud to announce that the recipient of the 2022 Ryan Fischer BULLDOG Legacy Scholarship for Grandville High School is Ross VanBlois. Ross is a remarkable student-athlete and faith-driven individual. He plans to attend Miami University this fall.
As a standout lacrosse player, Ross earned four varsity letters, served two seasons as captain, and in 2021, led his team to its most successful season in program history while also setting new school records for most goals, assists, and points in one season. He also received two varsity letters in soccer and one in powerlifting. Beyond athletics, Ross is actively involved in his school community, including four years participation on the Executive Board, Vice President of the Senior Class and an Officer of the National Honor Society. He is a member of DECA, volunteered as a manager of the hockey team for two seasons, and participated as a DAWG Boy for the cheer team. Additionally, he is a dedicated member of his church community through the Student Leadership team, youth group, welcome committees, and mission trips. His devotion to his faith is an integral part of who he is, which shines through in his strong character qualities and service to others. Notably, Ross’s ability to make others feel seen, welcomed, and included is distinctly similar to traits Ryan exuded.
2021 Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy
Scholarship Award Recipient
Dawson Kryska
We are very proud to announce the 2021 recipient of the Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy Scholarship, Dawson Kryska! Dawson plans to attend Hope College next fall to study Exercise Science.
Dawson earned a total of seven varsity letters in football, baseball, basketball, and powerlifting. He served as captain of the football team, as well as captain of his Flames baseball team, a faith-based travel baseball organization. Dawson is a two-year member of the National Honor Society and has been involved as a leader in local youth sports and inner-city baseball clinics. When asked what Ryan’s legacy means to him and what he believes his own legacy will be, Dawson responded: “What I took away from Ryan’s legacy was learning to be selfless, caring, involved, showing optimism, and being an overall leader to others… Everyone needs someone to either look up to or look to for ways of improving themselves. I believe God has empowered me to be that person for a lot of people.”
Dawson has been nominated and elected by his peers to several awards, including the “Top Dawg” award for the Grandville male senior class. He is also a proud uncle to four nieces and nephews. “On this earth, God has made each and every one of us our own unique person, with our own separate mission,” he writes. “Being myself, to me, means being selfless, loving, caring, and taking pride in leading by example. I want to be known for my consistency within, that no matter the people, no matter the place, I’m the same person everywhere I step foot.”
Dawson has been influenced by Ryan’s legacy since he was young, connected through stories in the community and through his brother, a classmate, teammate, and friend of Ryan. Forward-looking, Dawson believes the value of the Scholarship continues to be essential in the Grandville Community. He explains, “I think it is super important that current students continue to live out that ‘Live like Ryan’ legacy and strive to always ‘Be an 11.’ It sets a standard, establishes our own legacy here at Grandville, and ultimately shows the great importance of portraying GRIT through everything we do in our daily lives.”
2020 Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy
Scholarship Award Recipient
Ian Doyle
2019 Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy
Scholarship Award Recipient
Landon Poll
2018 Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy
Scholarship Award Recipient
Devin Dickerson
2017 Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy
Scholarship Award Recipient
Erin Fitzpatrick
2016 Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy
Scholarship Award Recipient
Hannah VanderSlice
2015 Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy
Scholarship Award Recipient
Isabella Buck
