Aditi Varman | The Chronicle
On March 15, 2025, Faith Le Yuan Oleckniche, a 2023 graduate of Mason High School known to many as Yuan-Yuan, passed away, leaving behind a legacy defined by compassion and leadership.
In the year since her death, that legacy has been honored through the creation of a memorial scholarship in her name. Established by those who knew her best, the Yuan-Yuan Memorial Scholarship recognizes students who reflect the same work ethic and care for others that Yuan-Yuan demonstrated during her time at Cincinnati Pool Management (CPM), where she quickly rose from a lifeguard to a management role after joining in 2020.
Cynthia Oleckniche, Yuan-Yuan’s mother, has been involved in honoring her daughter’s memory since her passing. Cynthia has worked closely to create the scholarship established in her daughter’s name, helping ensure that it reflects the values and legacy Yuan-Yuan left behind. Cynthia said Yuan-Yuan was someone who approached life with an open heart. She said that her daughter was always willing to help others, whether it was her friends and family, or even strangers. These traits are central to the scholarship’s meaning.
Yuan-Yuan Oleckniche (upper right corner) and other lifeguards at the Mason Municipal Aquatic Center, including The Chronicle alumnus Abby Weachter (lower middle left), were close friends outside of work and often participated in recreational activities together.
“Yuan-Yuan was a generous person,” Cynthia said. “She was a problem solver. She was just good at everything she did. She was smart, compassionate and she loved giving gifts. She had a strong work ethic. We felt like we [wanted] to reward another person who exhibits those similar characteristics.”
Cynthia said Yuan-Yuan’s admirable traits were evident from a young age and continued throughout her life.
“Yuan-Yuan was amazing,” Cynthia said. “We brought her home at 17 months [old] from China and she showed us early on that she could figure things out and problem-solve. She was always willing to help, even teaching us technology and being so supportive.”
Cynthia said the scholarship also carries a deeper message, one about mental health, specifically in young adults. She and her husband, Kevin Oleckniche, want students and the community to recognize that even those who seem to have it all together may be struggling internally, and that checking in on one another can make a difference.
“There is also a focus on mental health awareness,” Cynthia said. “Everyone has these wonderful gifts and talents and things to give to the world, but sometimes struggles happen. We want to spread awareness so people can feel more comfortable reaching out for help and achieve their potential.”
Cynthia said that Yuan-Yuan had a love for trying new things and encouraged others to explore and grow. She said Yuan-Yuan embraced life fully and wanted others to do the same.
“She loved adventure and would teach herself new skills, like becoming a strong snowboarder,” Cynthia said. “She would even bring her friends along and encourage them to learn too.”
Despite Yuan-Yuan’s high level of accomplishment and energy, she faced challenges that were not always visible to others.
“People who seem like they have everything together may still be struggling,” Cynthia said. “It is important to check in on them and ask if they are okay. Some struggles are easy to see, but others are hidden behind hard work and success. You do not always know what someone is going through unless you ask.”
Oleckniche said Yuan-Yuan’s practical approach to life shaped her decisions for the future, something the scholarship seeks to value in prospective students. While the family would love to support all students, the Yuan-Yuan Memorial Scholarship aims to recognize a graduating senior at Mason High School who plans to attend a trade school or community college.
“Yuan Yuan was not sure what she wanted to do and did not want to waste money on college without a plan,” Cynthia said. “She chose to take community college classes and considered going into firefighting or EMT work. I think the scholarship should recognize someone hard-working and compassionate. It should also honor someone who has worked through challenges and helps others.”
Cynthia said the scholarship is a way to carry forward Yuan-Yuan’s legacy, both celebrating her life and motivating others to live with the same principles she lived by every day.
“We miss her terribly and wish we had known what she was going through,” Cynthia said. “We wish we could have done something differently. Hopefully, this scholarship helps to show that every person’s life is valuable, and they have the ability to make a meaningful impact.”
The idea for the scholarship was first proposed by CPM’s General Manager, Jeff Blume, after Yuan-Yuan’s funeral service on March 20, 2025.
“Jeff came up [to us] after her funeral and said he would like to do a scholarship, because she was a very extraordinary person,” Cynthia said. “She impacted a lot of people’s lives, and he wanted to keep her memory alive and help other students achieve their goals.”
Cynthia said Blume has played a crucial role in helping the scholarship come to life.
“We have been pretty distraught,” Cynthia said. “It has been really a tough year for us, but Jeff has continued to work on the scholarship. He has asked us for input as far as the criteria, which we were happy to do to honor our daughter.”
Blume has worked on building the scholarship and worked with Yuan-Yuan as her manager during her time at CPM, where she worked at the Mason Community Center and Mason Municipal Aquatic Center. He said the award is designed not just to reward academic achievement but to highlight character and dedication. Those who receive the scholarship embody the traits Yuan-Yuan valued most.
“This scholarship is meant to recognize students who reflect the same character she showed every day,” Blume said. “We are looking for people who lead with kindness and put others before themselves.”
Blume said Yuan-Yuan had a remarkable ability to bring people together, making everyone feel understood regardless of background.
“She always wanted to bring people together in all walks of life, whether young, old, educated, or non-educated,” Blume said. “She could float between every group of people and feel comfortable and make them feel comfortable.”
Blume said that she often went out of her way to support her teammates in the workplace and make everyone feel valued, demonstrating the kind of selflessness the scholarship aims to honor.
“She showed leadership almost immediately, even before she had the title,” Blume said. “People naturally looked to her because she stayed calm and knew how to handle situations. She was caring. When she was a lifeguard or a manager, she would buy everybody dinner, like the whole staff. Out of her own pocket.”
Blume said the scholarship’s focus is to celebrate qualities that are sometimes overlooked in traditional awards. The scholarship seeks to assess the impact students have on those around them. It is intended to celebrate students whose actions may not always be visible but make a real difference.
“It is not just about grades or achievements on paper,” Blume said. “It is about who someone is when no one is watching and how they treat others.”
Blume said that applicants for the Yuan-Yuan Memorial Scholarship should understand that this award is about more than just financial support. It is a recognition of the way Yuan-Yuan lived her life, and a representation of Blume and the Oleckniche family’s hope for the future.
“We hope this encourages students who may not always get recognition,” Blume said. “Sometimes the most deserving people are the ones working hard behind the scenes. It is important to us that this scholarship feels personal; it is not just an award, it is a way to tell her story through others.”
