NBA All-Star 2024 host committee announces 24 statewide legacy grant honorees
The REPORTER
Two Noblesville High School students are among the 24 members of the Class of 2024 that have been honored as Indianapolis NBA All-Star Rising Stars in association with the NBA All-Star Legacy Grants, it was announced Thursday by the Indianapolis NBA All-Star 2024 Host Committee.
This award includes a $2,400 scholarship for each Rising Star payable to the college, university, or postsecondary institution they attend after high school graduation. The two NHS students are Megan Broviak (A Kid Again) and Kathy (Zee) Mellinger of Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville.
Megan Broviak was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in March of 2015 and relapsed in September 2018. She has now been off treatment for three years. Despite missing almost an entire year, Megan loves school and works hard to maintain her high GPA, which is currently 4.2.
“Megan hasn’t let her diagnosis stop her,” said her nominator.
Her goal for her future is to become a pediatric oncologist. She is extremely determined and driven to be able to give back to future patients like she was helped.
Megan stands out at Noblesville High School. She is a National Honor Society inductee, marching band section leader, band council president, and a member of the Tri-M honor society.
She is an active volunteer in her community and has held multiple part-time jobs over the last few years.
Since age nine, Zee Melinger has been an engaged and inspiring member of the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville. Patient, kind, dependable, honest, aware, empathetic, and caring are only some of the words their nominator used to describe Zee.
“From their first day, Zee made positive impressions on both club staff, their peers, and younger members with their capacity for giving, sharing, and teaching others,” said their nominator. “Zee hasn’t ever once balked at a challenge while at the same time being true to their strengths.”
Zee has always been intrigued by the outdoors and displays their determination for learning by exploring the field of Science and Nature and jumps at any chance to introduce nature and what it offers to younger members.
In addition to their dedication to the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville, Zee spends much of their time volunteering in their community through various activities like helping disabled children learn to swim safely at the Carmel Monon Community Center, assisting teachers and students with woodworking using tools at Makers Playground, helping kids learn fundamentals of bows and arrows at Koteewi Archery range, and is a counselor in training at Camp Crosser.
Zee is a member of Noblesville Girls Rugby team, member of the Noblesville High School Gay-Straight Alliance Club, and a longtime member in Keystone Club.
When NBA All-Star was originally scheduled to be held in 2021, NBA All-Star Host Committee committed to completing 21 Legacy Grant projects and recognizing 21 deserving Rising Stars. Since moving to 2024, Legacy Grants of up to $50,000 have been awarded to three additional organizations, bringing the total Legacy Grant projects to 24.
In addition, each of the now 24 Legacy Grantees nominated high school-aged Rising Stars for their project. From those nominees, the Indianapolis NBA All-Star Legacy Committee, a subcommittee of the Host Committee, selected one Rising Star for each of the 24 Legacy Grants to receive this honor and scholarship.
“Recognizing 21 Rising Stars in 2021 for leadership in their schools and communities was extraordinary,” said Rick Fuson, NBA All-Star Board of Directors and Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO. “We are honored to recognize 24 additional students as they are both a testament to their schools, selves, and communities and to the commitment of our Legacy Grantees to serving the youth in their communities.”
The NBA All-Star Legacy Grants focus on youth-serving nonprofit organizations across Indiana. The initiative provided 24 grants up to $50,000 for brick-and mortar projects focused on health and wellness or education with an estimated impact on 90,000 youth statewide.