Hello! My name is Marissa Shaver from Fostoria, Ohio. I have been one of the scholarship recipients for the past four years and now for this upcoming school year. I attended Trine University in Angola, Indiana and studied biomedical engineering. I recently graduated this past May and received my bachelor’s degree. I will be continuing my education at Eastern Michigan University to pursue a Master’s degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics. After graduation from Eastern Michigan I hope to gain more experience in the field and eventually open my own practice to fit individuals with prosthetics and/or orthotics.

Throughout the course of my senior year at Trine I was able to work on a senior design project, The Helping Hands Project, with three other seniors. Our goal was to design and manufacture functional, 3D printed prosthetic hands. This project presented an amazing opportunity to work with the two girls and their families. As a group we were able to improve the quality of life for those two girls.

This summer I am working in the lab at Roppe, a rubber flooring factory. I have worked in the lab the past five summers as a quality control technician. This summer I was fortunate enough to take a trip up to Alaska with my parents, sister, brother-in-law and my boyfriend. It was an amazing two weeks spent visiting family, fishing, hiking, riding bikes, riding 4 wheelers, exploring downtown Anchorage, and traveling around Alaska. I have always loved going up to Alaska because of the breathtaking views and different activities we can’t do here in Ohio.

I am beyond appreciative for the support The CIRI Foundation has provided throughout my educational journey. I have had an amazing college experience thus far and I look forward to what the future holds.

I have included a photo of myself with my older sister, Kassie, a previous scholarship recipient as well, from our vacation to Alaska this summer.