By Hanna Singh
Outstanding Ruston High School senior, Riley Green, was honored with the 2024 Taylor Ryan Young Memorial Scholarship at the RHS school band banquet.
This prestigious award recognized Green’s dedication to his position in the school band and passion for his community. Established by the Lincoln Rotary Club and Central Federal Credit Union, the scholarship pays tribute to a former colleague, Taylor Ryan Young, who served at both organizations before his passing.
Each year, the Taylor Ryan Young Memorial Scholarship is presented to a deserving member of the Ruston High School band who will be attending Louisiana Tech as Young did. This year, Green was selected in recognition of his dedication to his position as a percussionist in the school band.
“During my time in band, I’ve grown in ways I never could have imagined,” Green said. “Over time, I learned to be consistent and work hard at something I truly had a passion for while making lifelong friends along the way.”
The scholarship fund was established in 2022 following Young’s unexpected passing. Young, a valued Ruston Rotary Club member, an active church member and an employee at Centric Federal Credit Union, left a lasting impact on his community. The award was developed to honor Young’s memory, his love for music and his passion for his community.
Rotary Club President, Victoria Sullivan explained the process behind the selection of the scholarship recipient, emphasizing the intention to honor an individual whose commitments mirrored those of Young.
“Our club wanted to be able to honor Taylor and his legacy for many years to come,” Sullivan said. “We saw it best fit to give a scholarship in memory of Taylor annually to someone who had the same undeniable passion for music and the same servant’s heart that we witnessed in Taylor over the years with him.”
Green was awarded a $2,000 scholarship, jointly funded by the two organizations, to put toward his future education and music career. Green will attend Louisiana Tech University in the upcoming fall semester of 2024, pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. Additionally, he has committed to continuing to play percussion at a collegiate level by signing with the LA Tech Band.
