EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) -- Honoring a fallen Eugene Police officer who died in the line of duty in 2011, the first recipients of the Officer Chris Kilcullen Memorial Scholarship Fund will be announced this coming weekend. Sunday, April 22, 2012, will mark one year since Officer Chris Kilcullen was killed as the result of a shooting during a traffic stop on Highway 126 in Springfield. Since then, one of the many projects honoring his legacy of community service - the Officer Chris Kilcullen Memorial Scholarship Fund - has continued to raise financial support.
This Saturday, April 21, 2012, the first recipients of the scholarship will be presented in a private ceremony. Two students will receive the award; the money will help them attend classes at two Eugene-Springfield area universities, the University of Oregon and Northwest Christian University.
To earn the honor, scholarship applicants had to meet certain criteria, live in the Eugene-Springfield area and attend a local university.
While locality is one key factor, honoring Officer Kilcullen's spirit is another. Lindsay Lowan, Chair of the Officer Chris Kilcullen Memorial Scholarship Fund, says one of the primary goals was to find people who have “demonstrated a deep commitment to caring for others and community service.”
“Both of these students are from this community and both of them in their history in their time in service have made a significant impact on the community in very specific ways, very different ways, and we know that we're going to continue to see phenomenal things from them,” Lowan said.
In all, 75 people applied for the 2012 disbursement.
“We hope that over time we'll be able to look out across the community and see the very specific projects that these new Kilcullen Scholars have spent their time perpetuating,” says Lowan.
Lowan stressed the scholarship couldn't have been successful without community support. Thousands of community members donated to the cause, purchasing wristbands and other honorary memorabilia in Officer Kilcullen's honor.
The scholarship is now endowed through the Oregon Community Foundation. The plan is to award it every year to multiple students for varying amounts, depending on a student's individual need.
The Kilcullen Scholars will also take part in future events honoring Officer Chris Kilcullen as well.
The first scholars will be announced in Eugene at a private ceremony on Saturday, April 21, 2012. NewsSource 16 will bring you coverage of the event Saturday at 6:30 PM.
For more information on the scholarship, click the following link to visit the group's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OfficerChrisKilcullenMemorialScholarship.
Contributions may also be made to:
Kilcullen Memorial Scholarship
c/o Oregon Community Foundation
440 East Broadway, Suite 160
Eugene OR 97401
