Three Franklin Regional High School juniors have earned the title of Student Visionaries of the Year after leading a fundraising campaign that raised more than $157,000 for blood cancer research, patient support, and advocacy through Blood Cancer United's Student Visionaries of the Year program.

The seven-week initiative challenges high school students across the Pittsburgh region to build teams, organize events, secure sponsorships, and raise as much money as possible to support the fight against blood cancers. This year, Jenna Munkittrick, Liam Murphy, and Ryland Kase not only participated as candidates but also led the top fundraising campaign in Pittsburgh.

The trio raised funds through hoagie sales, fish fries, outreach to businesses, and donations from friends, family members, and community supporters. Their efforts earned them the title of Student Visionaries of the Year while making a meaningful impact on blood cancer patients and their families.

The team also dedicated their campaign to teammate, friend, and classmate Luca Bertucci, a survivor of Burkitt's Lymphoma who served as Pittsburgh's honored hero for the program this year.

At 17 years old, Jenna Munkittrick joined the program with a desire to make a difference while gaining experience that could help her pursue a future career in healthcare. 

As a candidate, Jenna spent much of her time planning fundraisers, reaching out to family and friends, and arranging sponsorship meetings with local companies.

"I thought this would be a meaningful way to build skills that I will need in a future career while helping others," she said.

Throughout the campaign, Jenna developed valuable leadership and communication skills while working toward a common goal. One of her most meaningful memories was witnessing the community's strong support.

"My favorite moment was seeing my community come together to support such an important cause," she said.

For Jenna, the experience demonstrated how much can be accomplished when people unite around a mission that affects so many families.

For Liam Murphy, the cause is deeply personal.

The 17-year-old junior chose to participate after losing his aunt to ovarian cancer. Her memory motivated him to help prevent other families from experiencing similar loss.

"My aunt sadly passed away from ovarian cancer, and I want to make fewer people go through what I went through," Liam said.

As a candidate, Liam helped organize fundraising activities and contacted businesses to seek sponsorship opportunities. The experience pushed him outside his comfort zone and strengthened his confidence.

"It taught me to be positive and outgoing when talking to people that you don't know or when public speaking," he said.

Liam's favorite memory came during the program's Grand Finale celebration, when participants learned the results of their fundraising efforts.

"Everything that happened that night was meaningful," he said.

The event marked the culmination of months of hard work and community support.

Ryland Kase's connection to the program began long before this year's campaign.

His mother participated in the adult version of the fundraising initiative in 2020, inspiring him to continue the work she started.

"I wanted to make an impact while carrying on what she has done," Ryland said.

During the campaign, Ryland focused on securing donations from businesses and helping organize fundraising events. Along the way, he developed strong organizational and communication skills that he believes will benefit him in the future.

His favorite moment was simple but unforgettable: winning the competition.

"Winning the competition" stood out as the highlight of the experience, he said.

For Ryland, the victory represented not only a fundraising achievement but also the collective effort of an entire community working together for a worthy cause.

Because of their success, the students have been invited by Blood Cancer United to the National Summit in NYC in October. They hope the Student Visionaries of the Year program continues to thrive under future candidates and inspires more young people to become involved.

They credit family members for playing a critical role in their success by helping identify donation opportunities, plan events, and encourage the campaign.

Students interested in participating can connect with local Blood Cancer United teams and watch for future recruitment opportunities. The Franklin Regional team plans to recruit new teammates this fall and encourages community members to attend future fundraisers and support upcoming campaigns.

Their success shows what can happen when motivated students, supportive families, local businesses, and a caring community come together to fight blood cancer and bring hope to patients and their local businesses, and a caring community come together to fight blood cancer and bring hope to patients and their loved ones.