At Vibe, we believe leadership starts with compassion, connection, and a willingness to make a difference in the lives of others.
Through our annual scholarship program, we’re proud to recognize graduating Vibe members who are already creating meaningful impact within their communities while pursuing their educational goals.
Meet Isabella Sterling, one of our 2026 Vibe Scholarship recipients.
For Isabella, community begins with connection.
What started as a reluctant afternoon helping a neighbor eventually became a defining experience that shaped the way she sees service, leadership, and the impact one person can have on another’s life.
At 12 years old, Isabella was asked to help a widow in her neighborhood clean up an overgrown yard. At first, she did not want to go. But what she expected to be a simple afternoon of yard work quickly became something much more meaningful.
Instead of finding just another task to complete, Isabella found someone who simply needed companionship, support, and kindness.
Over the course of that summer, Isabella and her neighbor built a lasting friendship while sorting through memories, sharing stories, and helping preserve pieces of a life filled with love and loss. What began as an act of service became a lesson in empathy and human connection, one that continues to guide Isabella years later.
That experience planted the seed for a lifelong passion for volunteering and community impact.
Since then, Isabella has continued expanding the ways she serves others. Through church mission trips, she has helped restore neighborhoods and build stronger connections within communities. During one project, she worked alongside fellow volunteers to clear an alleyway that had once connected neighbors before falling into disrepair, helping transform it back into a shared community space.
Closer to home, Isabella regularly volunteers at shelters and food banks, helping prepare meals, stock supplies, and support individuals experiencing difficult circumstances. She also created a “birthday party” drive that collected 140 celebration kits for foster children, including cake mix, decorations, candles, and small gifts to help make birthdays feel special and joyful.
What began as one idea quickly grew into an opportunity to spread kindness to even more families through local organizations and the Ronald McDonald House.
Through every experience, Isabella has discovered that service is not just about helping others. It is about creating relationships, strengthening communities, and making people feel seen and cared for.
This fall, Isabella will attend the University of Notre Dame, continuing a journey rooted in compassion, leadership, and a commitment to uplifting the people around her. Her story is a reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can grow into something truly life-changing.