2019 Legacy Awards scholar Trey Heliin found his “why” in college. He started at Grand Valley State University, deciding to study biomedical sciences because of a gut feeling. His mother often helped him with his back pain through osteopathic manipulative therapy, and she explained the osteopathic school’s holistic approach to medicine.

“Immediately, it felt as though my ‘why’ became clear,” says Heliin. “I fell in love with their ideology of medicine, which was treating problems at the root and looking at the body as a whole.”

Heliin’s “why” only became clearer in college when he served as a pre-med mentor, where he helped prepare students for the path to medical school. His mentee was very similar, having also grown up in a small, rural town in northern Michigan, and they bonded over their similar experiences.

Being part of the mentorship program gave Heliin his second “why.”

“I want to be someone who others can go to for advice,” says Heliin. “I want to be a person, not just a doctor, who can take time to nurture others and help them realize their goals.”

Part of the way Heliin continues to be an advocate and mentor today was by becoming an Elk. Heliin is now a member of the Lodge that sponsored his Legacy Awards scholarship, Grand Rapids, Mich., Lodge No. 48. Heliin has volunteered with several projects at the Lodge, including cooking and serving food at a community breakfast, collecting money at raffles, decorating a float for a local parade, and helping host an event celebrating Polish heritage.

“Now that I’ve been accepted into Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, I am no longer able to be in Grand Rapids,” says Heliin, “but that doesn’t mean I still can’t be involved with the Elks. Becoming a member has shown me that I’m welcome anywhere.”

The Legacy Awards scholarship has a service requirement for scholars to serve at an Elks Lodge, and Heliin had never received a scholarship with a service component before.

“The Legacy scholarship holds true to its name,” says Heliin, “passing the values of the Elks from my grandfather to me, then to my sister, and hopefully, in time, to my children and so on.”