Payton Balsis

Payton Balsis is beginning her freshman year at Lipscomb University’s Ideal Program this fall as this year’s Ruby’s Rainbow Brett Boyer Scholarship Award recipient, exploring career paths that let her care for children or animals, her two great loves, with graduation expected in Spring 2028.

Simply being admitted into a college program is an accomplishment Payton is quietly proud of. Her goals for the future are clear: find work she loves and live as independently as she can, and she says she’s more than ready for the challenge.

Payton loves spending time with friends and family and playing sports. She’s one of five siblings, including a sister adopted from Russia who also has Down syndrome, and she can’t wait to move into the dorms and make new friends.

Welcome to Lipscomb, Payton! Get ready for an exciting freshman year.