Patrick Dyer Allen’s “Rising Star” baseball card as designed by Minor League Baseball for all its Rising Star award recipients.
Patrick will be presented with the award, which includes tuition and other education-related expenses, at an Asheville Tourists minor league baseball game soon, Minor League Baseball and MiLB Charities announced on May 14.
Each year, Minor League Baseball and MiLB Charities’ program recognizes high school students preparing for their “call-ups” to college by acknowledging their achievements in academics and in their communities.
Winners were nominated by their respective Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies and were required to submit descriptions of their academic and personal achievements, college and career goals, and how their involvement in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program has impacted their lives. Currently serving as a “Big” or “Little” was an eligibility requirement for the award.
“Across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies match youth with Bigs who will stand in their corner and defend their potential,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President and CEO Pam Iorio. “We are grateful for the support of Minor League Baseball in helping these outstanding Bigs and Littles start their college journeys and take the next step toward reaching that potential.”
“Minor League Baseball is proud to aid in furthering our Rising Stars’ education by offering them financial support towards tuition and other education-related expenses,” said Courtney Nehls, assistant director of community engagement for Minor League Baseball. “These individuals have demonstrated hard work and determination, and we look forward to seeing them pursue their dreams.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has been an MiLB Charity Partner since the program’s inception in 2004. The mission of the Minor League Baseball Charity Partners Program is to provide national exposure for participating charities, expand current relationships between clubs and local chapters and to foster new relationships where none exist. Minor League Baseball Charities is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to giving back to and enhancing the communities MiLB teams call home.
Here are the other Rising Star honorees, as well as their respective Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies and the MiLB teams:
- Lauren-Megan Botha, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, Round Rock Express
- Sierra Brooks, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana, Inc., Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Madisyn Brown, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region, Great Lakes Loons
- Roger Davis-Jahnel, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star-Greater Dallas, Frisco RoughRiders
- David Delices, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, Fort Myers Miracle
- Matthew Le, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Inland Empire, Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino
- Megan Makovsky, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berks County, Reading Fightin Phils
- Amaria D. Spain, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham, Birmingham Barons
- Elizabeth Tan, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star-Greater Dallas, Frisco RoughRiders
Since 2016, MiLB Charities has awarded $160,000 to deserving students in MiLB communities through the Rising Star Students Program. In 2018, MiLB and its teams contributed more than $45 million to communities internationally.
