Congratulations to Ellie Holdorf and Violet Meskan for being selected as the 2025 Patty Viverito Emerging Leader Scholarship Award recipients!

Ellie Holdorf, a senior at Davenport West High School, is a well-rounded student-athlete and leader, excelling both academically and in extracurricular activities. She maintains a 4.0 GPA while balancing multiple varsity sports, including basketball, volleyball, and tennis, where she has earned All-Conference Honorable Mentions and leadership roles as a team captain. Beyond athletics, Holdorf is engaged in her school and community, serving as Student Senate President, Senior Class Vice President, and a National Honor Society member. She is also active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has dedicated her time to various service initiatives, including mission trips, youth leadership programs, and mentoring younger students. Her strong work ethic, leadership, and passion for service make her a standout in both academics and athletics.

Violet Meskan, a senior at Sherrard High School, excels both academically and athletically while actively contributing to her community. A dedicated student, she is an Illinois State Scholar, National Merit Scholarship recipient, and a four-year High Honor Roll student. Meskan balances her studies with leadership roles in the National Honor Society, All School Senate, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. On the court, she is a two-year varsity captain for basketball and has earned multiple athletic honors, including Unanimous First Team All-Conference in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference. Beyond academics and sports, Meskan dedicates her time to service initiatives such as GiGi’s Playhouse, school fundraisers, and mentoring younger students, exemplifying leadership and a commitment to making a difference.

"Ellie and Violet were selected this year because they reflect the leadership, passion, and commitment to sports and service that Patty Viverito has inspired,” said Joan Kranovich, Vice President of Business Growth at Visit Quad Cities and Director of Sports QC. “They’re making their mark and influencing the future of the Quad Cities region. We’re proud to celebrate and support these exceptional young leaders.”

Thank you to all who applied and for your continued commitment to supporting athletics in the Quad Cities!

2026 application window is now closed - winners will be notified in March

Visit Quad Cities, the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for the Quad Cities region, is announcing that applications are now open for the 2026 Patty Viverito Emerging Leader Scholarship. This scholarship is named in honor of Patty Viverito, past senior associate commissioner at the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and Missouri Valley Football Conference commissioner.

The Patty Viverito Emerging Leader Scholarship was created to recognize and support outstanding leaders in women’s athletics in the Quad Cities regional destination. This scholarship has been awarded annually since March of 2023. Two more Quad Cities female student-athletes from Illinois/Iowa will be recognized in March of 2026 and awarded a scholarship investment in Ms. Viverito’s name. 

High school female student-athletes that demonstrate academic excellence, leadership characteristics, community engagement, and share Ms. Viverito’s values for achievement are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a senior in high school and have plans to pursue an undergraduate education at any accredited university or community college.

Visit Quad Cities and the Quad Cities Sports Commission will serve as the administrator of the program. A committee of local female community leaders will serve in an advisory committee role to determine the annual recipient.

Requirements:

• Female Student-Athlete
• High School Senior from Illinois or Iowa
• High School GPA: 3.0 and higher
• Complete Application
• Submit a 500-word essay
  • Who do you feel is a good leader and why?
  • Examples of leadership
  • Examples of your community involvement
  • Your Sport involvement
• Two letters of recommendation (school administrator and additional letter, non-family member)

Timeline: Annual Award

Submittals Due: February 15, 2026 

Advisory Comittee: Ashley Hansen, Stacy Shelman, Sara Cross, Joan Kranovich, & Cassidy Darin

Award Amount: $1,000 per student