YSU Graduate looks beyond the books and reaches out to those in need

Scott has traveled to Scotland, France, Germany, Austria and Italy.
YOUNGSTOWN -- When Heidi Scott's nephew was born 10 weeks premature in June 2002, Scott spent 16 to 18 hours a day at her sister's side as the newborn struggled for life.
"He was a fighter," said Scott, 22, of Hubbard, who graduated from Youngstown State University this week. "Watching him made me realize how precious life is."
As she looked around at the other newborns in the neonatal unit at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, a thought crossed her mind.
"I felt so helpless watching them," she said, "so I crocheted afghans for each of the babies. It made me feel so good to do something for them."
From blankets for sick babies to community projects for Youngstown's homeless, Scott has spent much of her time as a YSU student helping the helpless.
Scott was among nearly 600 other students who graduated Sunday during YSU's winter commencement ceremonies in Beeghly Center.
Continuing her education
Though graduation marks a milestone in Scott's life, it won't end her tenure at YSU. She has received a graduate assistantship in the history department and will stay on at YSU after graduating.
A University Scholar who has a laundry list of community and academic activities and honors, Scott receives a bachelor's degree with a double major in political science and history.
Her senior thesis was a study of World War I memorials in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
"In the summer of 2001, I studied at Regents College in London," Scott said. "I remembered seeing all these monuments I had studied about in my World War I history class and decided to expand it into my senior thesis."
Scott said the lack of documented sources for locations of memorials in the area made the project challenging.
"One thing I did learn from my research is that the Girard-Liberty Memorial Park has a tree planted for every soldier from the area who died in World War I," she said.
Scott also traveled to Scotland, France, Germany, Austria and Italy.
"I learned so much about history, but also about myself and other people," she said.
Other activities
Scott completed a 2002 internship at the Mahoning County Juvenile Court and also volunteers at the Mahoning Valley Rescue Mission and the Ronald McDonald House.
She works at Joy Cone Co. in Hermitage, Pa., and recently represented the company in the Heart Walk for the American Heart Association.
"I pushed my nephew, who is now 17 months old, in his stroller," she said. "He's doing really well and is the cutest thing you'll ever see."