This article was published in the fall 2026 issue of The Vincentian, the quarterly newsletter of the Congregation of the Mission Western Province.
VMY Scholarship winners value their time in Operation Overhaul
Audrey Amschler and Drake Meyer, both recent high school graduates, each use the same phrase, “making a difference,” when they talk about Vincentian Marian Youth SEMO’s Operation Overhaul program.
Both recipients of the VMY SEMO scholarship, Audrey is a student representative on the VMY SEMO Board of Directors, and Drake has been an employee of the organization’s thrift store for two years.
“I first heard about VMY SEMO in eighth grade,” Drake said. “My mom said I should go. I didn’t want to, but they had food and a pool table. I haven’t looked back since. I go to youth group regularly. At the beginning, I was pretty weak in my faith, but I have really grown into it.”
Audrey joined in seventh grade and has gone to Operation Overhaul five times. She said she has grown in her ability to complete tasks on her own, and doing that while helping people has been very meaningful.
“It’s very powerful to see the effect of the work we are doing for people,” she said. “When you donate money, you don’t really have a sense of where it is going. With this, you’re there.”
Next year, Drake will be attending Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau and Audrey will be at Arkansas State University, but both say they intend to stay with VMY SEMO at the young adult level.