Each spring, one deserving student from Fargo South High School receives a gift. However, unlike most other gifts, this one comes with a few prerequisites: the student must be involved in music, must perform well academically and must be dedicated to pursuing a 4-year college degree. Given each year by the Fargo Public School Foundation on behalf of Robert and Sally Berrell, the $2,000 scholarship is a fitting memorial for their son, Steve, who lost his life in tragedy on Dec. 21, 1988 at the age of 20.
Nearly twenty years ago, the Berrell’s were preparing to celebrate the holidays with their family. They were especially excited to have their son, Steve, home from his semester abroad in London, England. At that time, Steve was a junior Communications and Management double major at Syracuse University. He was finishing yet another successful trip overseas yet looking forward to getting back to New York to move into the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house he had pledged with before leaving for England.
Steve loved to travel, and he loved his music. He spent his high school life playing his trumpet and traveling with South’s choral and jazz bands, performing all over the US and Europe. It was a perfect union of Steve’s two passions. Steve was also a good student, always dedicated to learning all he could and exploring the world around him. So, it was no surprise to his family when Steve announced his plan to study abroad.
As the Christmas season bloomed full, Robert and Sally awaited their joyful family reunion. They were anxious to hear Steve’s stories, to share a laugh and embrace. This Christmas, however, turned tragic. With the news of Pan Am flight 103’s demise over Lockerbie, Scotland, the flight that was to bring Steve home to his family, the holiday season changed forever for the Berrells.
While the family gathered to grieve and support one another, Robert and Sally started the process of finding a way to honor their son and his short, but admirable life. They knew his love for music was strong. They remembered his academic achievements, and they cherished his passion for learning. The decision to create a scholarship in memoriam for their son was quite natural, and the impact of this annual gift will far outlive the tragedy for which is was created.
“Bob and I started this scholarship on our own,” explained Sally. “We met with Dr. Warner (then principal of South High) to see about the possibility of setting up a scholarship in memory of Steve.”
Later, the Berrells met with Steve Backsen and the Fargo Public School Foundation to see about the possibility of working with them to ensure the scholarship would continue in good keeping.
“We felt it was very important that it would be handled professionally year in year out,” said Sally. “We met with Steve and it went very smoothly. I can’t say enough good things about him and the work of the foundation.”
So, with the help of the Foundation, the Steve Berrell scholarship fund was set up through Heartland Trust Company, and as Sally said, “The scholarship will go on as long as South High is around!
Though the scholarship stems from terrible personal tragedy, the Berrells created a way to honor their son, provide needed financial support for promising Fargo graduates, and support a public education system that is also quite deserving. Sally Berrell once taught in the district and still marvels at the quality of education provided in spite of low pay and little recognition.
“Beginning with elementary, the teaching is excellent,” said Sally. “The teachers were very caring, and had wonderful contact with parents. I think they take it very seriously. I think the teachers here are very dedicated. They take an interest in their students.”
The tradition of learning and respect for the promise of a good education runs deep in the Berrell family. If there were a an underlying storyline, it would simply be the Berrells’ desire to attract more attention to the good work of the Fargo Schools and what the Foundation has accomplished over the years.
“People should pay more attention,” said Sally. “I think it would be wonderful for people who have children who’ve gone through the Fargo school district to consider [the Foundation] in their charitable giving…in appreciation, not necessarily for a death.
“Education was very important to our Steve,” explained Sally with a hint of a quiver in her voice. “He loved school here, he was very excited about college, and therefore we felt it was a positive step out of a terrible tragedy.”
Indeed.
No comments:
Post a Comment