MaKayla Waugh, a student at the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IU Indianapolis, shares how her experience with Jagathon has shaped her academic and professional journey.
Question: Can you tell us about your engaged learning experience?
Answer: Jagathon, IU Indianapolis’ Dance Marathon, is a student-led, year-round philanthropic movement that culminates into an electric, heartfelt multi-hour event. Students come together to fundraise and celebrate the kids and families we support at Riley Hospital for Children. Over the past 24 years, Jagathon has raised over $3.8 million for the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research at Riley. Being part of that tradition has been incredibly meaningful.
Q: What inspired you to get involved?
A: About two weeks into my freshman year of high school, one of my close family friends passed away from neuroblastoma. She was a Riley kid and received treatment at Riley Hospital. After that, I re-established my high school’s Riley Dance Marathon program to help raise critical funds and awareness for pediatric research. That experience stayed with me. I’ve always been driven by servant leadership, and continuing that work at IU Indianapolis felt like a natural step.
Q: How has this experience shaped your perspective on your field, community involvement, or personal goals?
A: At the end of my senior year of high school, I was honored to receive the Riley Children’s Foundation Next Generation Award, which recognizes students for exceptional leadership and character. As an epidemiology major, I study public health patterns, data, and the social factors that affect health outcomes. Being part of Jagathon has strengthened my goal to pursue a master’s degree in epidemiology and eventually attend medical school to specialize in pediatric infectious disease. It has shown me the power of community, research, and philanthropy working together.
Q: What skills or knowledge did you gain through this experience that you might not have learned in a traditional classroom?
A: Through Jagathon, especially in my role as vice president of finance, I gained a lot of practical skills. Managing budgets, creating fundraising initiatives, and ensuring financial transparency are huge responsibilities. I also learned how to lead a team, solve problems strategically, and communicate financial information to people who don’t have a finance background. Networking with donors, volunteers, and community partners was another big part of my role. All these experiences helped me grow both professionally and personally.
Q: Can you share your most memorable or impactful moment from your time with Jagathon?
A: Definitely! When the total fundraising was revealed at Jagathon 2024. I served on the Presidential Board that year, and seeing the final number revealed was unforgettable. We faced a lot of challenges throughout the year, but we exceeded our fundraising goal. It was powerful to witness the impact of everyone’s dedication and hard work come together in that moment.
Q: In what ways do you feel more prepared for your future career because of this opportunity?
A: Jagathon gave me a real-world understanding of what it means to commit to a cause. It reinforced my passion for pediatric healthcare and research, and it showed me how critical fundraising and awareness are to advancing medicine. As I move toward my goal of becoming a pediatric infectious disease physician and researcher, I know the leadership, communication, and management skills I developed here will serve me well.
Q: What would you say to students who are hesitant to try an experience similar to yours?
A: In philanthropy, we always say, “If you never ask, the answer is always no.” The same applies to trying something new. If you never try it, you’ll never know if it could have been one of the most rewarding parts of your college experience. You owe it to yourself to explore.
Q: Why do you think these opportunities are valuable for students, especially those who might not be familiar with them?
A: They offer so much more than classroom learning. You gain real hands-on skills, grow as a servant leader, and build lifelong friendships. Opportunities like Jagathon give students a sense of purpose and show them they can be part of something bigger than themselves. It changes you in all the best ways.