Seniors dedicate scholarship

we were here: Seniors Devon Erlich and Chris Cook sign their names on tower bricks as part of Senior Disorientation on Tuesday. Students who donated $20.05 to the Senior Class Gift could sign a brick in the tower. The money goes into a scholarship fund for an incoming first year student. This year’s scholarship is being named for Chris Ashmos.

A record-setting 35 percent of the senior class participated in the Senior Class Gift scholarship program and have raised nearly $4,000.

According to Manager of Calling Programs and Development Byron French, the class of 2005 is the third to participate in the program and have received 165 gifts out of 461 graduating seniors.

The Senior Class Gift has raised $3,711 in scholarship money, which will be donated to an incoming first year in the fall. This year’s scholarship is dedicated to the memory of Chris Ashmos.

According to Co-chair of the Senior Gift Committee Taylor Oliver, senior, 15 seniors participated in a Phonathon to raise donations from within the senior class. Organizers emphasized diversity in participant selection in an effort to increase contributions. According to Oliver, it paid off: A record 35 percent of thesenior class contributed to the fund.

“A bulk of it came from the senior Phonathon,” Oliver said. “It’s a good cause; the promotion was a bit more wide-reaching this year.”

The scholarship is named after Ashmos, a former Trinity student and baseball player, according to Oliver.

“Chris Ashmos was a freshman in 2001 and 2002,” said friend and fellow baseball player Jake Walker, fifth year senior. “As a freshman, he was an amazing leader as second baseman.”

Chris Ashmos passed away in August 2003, just before returning to Trinity for his junior year, according to Walker.

He was involved in an automobile accident after attending a baseball game with his father in Houston between the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs, Ashmos’ favorite team, according to Walker. His father survived the accident.

“It was really tough,” Walker said. “This year’s senior class was best friends with Chris; it was something you can’t even describe.”

Ashmos loved life and was a positive motivator in the baseball team’s first run at the regional title during his time at Trinity, according to Walker. He was popular, charismatic and funny.

“He had an amazing energy for life that was absolutely unreal,” Walker said. “He had more energy than any one individual should be allowed to have.”

According to Oliver, many of Ashmos’ friends and family expressed interest in founding a scholarship but lacked adequate resources. The Senior Gift Committee combined their gifts with other contributions from Ashmos’ friends and family to establish the scholarship.

According to Junior Maggie Murray, Ashmos’ girlfriend at the time of his death, the dedication reflects the character of both the University and Ashmos.

She said his family is very thankful.

“They’re really excited that he still plays a role in the Trinity community,” Murray said. “It’s awesome that the class has chosen to name the scholarship after him; it shows what kind of impact he made.”

A check will be presented to President John Brazil tomorrow. The Office of Financial Aid will select an incoming first year student to receive the Chris Ashmos Scholarship this fall.

By Marcus Funk