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The Red Ledger

The online student news source of Lovejoy High School

The Red Ledger

The online student news source of Lovejoy High School

The Red Ledger

Scholarship created in memorial of Clay Chapman

In+honor+of+Clay+Chapman%2C+the+Chapman%E2%80%99s+family+and+friends+along+with+some+school+administration+has+created+the+Clay+Thomas+Chapman+Memorial+Scholarship.+This+is+made+to+honor+Clay+Chapman+and+to+acknowledge+the+achievements+of+one+student+athlete.+
Hannah Gonzalez
In honor of Clay Chapman, the Chapman’s family and friends along with some school administration has created the Clay Thomas Chapman Memorial Scholarship. This is made to honor Clay Chapman and to acknowledge the achievements of one student athlete.

In recognition of Clay Chapman, a fifth grader who passed away last year, the Chapman’s family and friends, along with some school administrators created the Clay Thomas Chapman Memorial Scholarship to recognize Clay, and students’ achievements in the district.

“The scholarship means so much to us,” Clay’s mom, Anne Chapman said. “It is a way for us to honor and remember Clay, and the sweet boy he was by giving back to Lovejoy.”

The idea of the scholarship was introduced by coworkers of Justin Chapman, who created a GoFundMe, and the money donated financed the scholarship.  

“A couple of people that my dad works with decided that they wanted to do something to help,” junior Sydney Chapman said. “They told us we could use the money for anything we wanted, but they had an idea to create a scholarship in Clay’s memorial.”

Clay’s parents worked to create the scholarship with lead counselor Mary Cabrera, and the Assistant Superintendent of Strategic Initiatives and Communication Dr. Laurie Vondersaar. The scholarship was announced at the “Play for Clay” girls basketball game.

“The family did a lot of work behind the scenes,” lead counselor Mary Cabrera said. “They had private donations come in in honor of Clay. When we met, I basically gave them the guidelines for how to set up a scholarship, but they are able to set their own parameters since it is a private scholarship.”

Students can apply for the scholarship through the district website by filling out the applications, which is due March 31. The scholarship was made for a student who has similar values as Clay. 

“Clay was very athletic, and he played soccer and basketball,” Sydney said. “He was very smart, and he also has been a part of a church his whole life, so we wanted to help students that had similar interests.” 

The Chapman family created this scholarship to aid a student who resembles Clay to honor his passion for athletics, church, school and relationships.

“I think this [the scholarship] was created to honor their sweet baby boy,” Cabrera said. “In their loss, they are giving back to others, and that is a great benefit for seniors that are about to start their post-secondary journey and in need of financing their collegiate education.”

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Margo Friloux, Section Editor
Entering her final year on staff, Margo is excited to work with her Co-Sports Editor and Leopard Life alum, Will Doig. This year is bittersweet to Friloux. She is ready to soak up the rest of her high school years in the newsroom. Out of the newsroom, Friloux is hoping it up, hanging out with friends, going to Braum's, watching “Grey’s Anatomy” or “Star Wars” and hanging out with her sisters. Friloux is an avid Harry Styles and Anakin Skywalker fan. She gets the chance to see her idol, Mr.Styles, in concert this year, and she is determined to make him fall in love with her. In school, Friloux is a part of the Patient Care Technician (PCT) class, NHS, LARK and basketball. Although she’s still shedding tears over the retirement of Parker and Lindsey, she and Doig are still carrying on the Leopard Life legacy. Live. Laugh. Love. TRL. 
Hannah Gonzalez, Graphics Editor
Mama Mia, here we go again. As she takes her last ride in the TRL classroom, Hannah Gonzalez is ready to end this year with a bang. Gonzalez serves as a Co-Graphics editor for the third year in a row and this is her fourth year on staff. When she’s not making killer graphics, you can most likely find Gonzalez on the volleyball court, at FCA meetings, in school or going for a joy ride in the Jeep that she named “Beep.” Although TRL is life, Gonzalez also enjoys going for late-night ice cream runs, watching early morning sunrises, going to church every Sunday morning and going on an occasional lake trip. To add to her list of accomplishments, Gonzalez has won three state championships and is looking for a fourth. With her happy planner by her side, Gonzalez is looking forward to kicking procrastination to the curb as she conquers her final year as a high school student. 

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