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2007 Scholarship Recipient Comments
“I imagine that Kevin believed that any experience was a good experience, as he embraced all that he did with enthusiasm and steadfast dedication. He understood the value of involvement in a wide range of activities at a young age, how to truly enrich life through both breadth and depth by experiencing as much as he could. Though his time here was cut too short, Kevin had already pursued countless experiences. The positive outlook with which he approached life was surely evident to those who knew him personally, as it is even apparent to those of us who have only had the pleasure of hearing or reading about his accomplishments.
When I was selected to join the ranks of Kevin’s scholarship recipients, the conduits through which his legacy lives on, I was truly humbled (and even a bit scared) by the weighty honor. How can I pay homage to Kevin? I asked myself. How could I honor the life of this young man, who had already accomplished so much and made a lasting impact on so many?
I decided that this important answer lay in what I took to be Kevin’s mantra. To live in the moment. To never take an experience for granted. To take what you are given… and make it grand.
It was with this philosophy in my corner that I approached college life at Columbia. Emboldened by Kevin’s viewpoint, I challenged myself to lunge past my comfort levels and charter the realm of the unknown. Deciding business was for me, I not only took up economics but Mandarin Chinese as well, expecting that I would soon fluently engage with the businessmen of one of the fastest growing entrepreneurial centers in the world. But my linguistic abilities, or lack thereof, did soon cut these lofty dreams short, forcing me to switch to something a bit more tangible: history ... in English. Though I was disappointed by my inability to master those Chinese character quizzes, Kevin reminded me of just how fortunate I was to be exposed to those types of troubles in the first place. After all, struggling to find a major is a much better dilemma to have than never getting the chance to choose one at all. And Kevin’s own range of experiences reminded me that breadth of experience builds character, and that one can ultimately make the biggest difference by making every little moment count.
Though it’s now been five whole years since I became a part of Kevin’s legacy, I find I can still boil those years down to the tangible, special moments:
Turning away from economics only to discover and cultivate a newfound passion for Psychology and Japanese History. The serenity of campus on the way to an early morning rowing practice; the bustle and fervor that infected that same campus on Homecoming. Listening with awe to those wise, intellectual (…twenty-year old) student speakers during freshman orientation; speaking myself, years later, to the mirror of my freshman self as I looked out into a sea of fresh, eager, and timid faces. Developing a crush on a charming Texan boy as a freshman; experiencing that crush transform from my study-buddy to my best friend, my soon-to-be husband, my rock. Walking up to receive my college pin at freshman convocation; walking back upon receiving my diploma at commencement, proudly graduating with honors that epitomized four years of diligent, hard work.
Reflecting on the individual moments in aggregate shows me just how much I’ve grown over the years. More importantly, it reminds me that Kevin was my constant. He resided in my heart through the most challenging times to remind me of just how fortunate I am. By living my life with Kevin’s legacy at the forefront, I learned to cherish every person, every memory, every moment. I am who I am today because of Kevin and your generosity and support of Kevin’s Fund. Your contributions enabled me to attend the college of my dreams and to subsequently grow as I did. For this and more, I am forever grateful and indebted to you all. Your faith and support enables Kevin’s legacy and spirit to live on through his scholarship recipients, touching the lives of many in profound ways. Thank you, and may God bless you.”
Background
The Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship Fund was established through the generosity of the many people Kevin touched in his short life. Kevin, an 18-year-old dean's list freshman in the honors program at Boston College, passed away from cardiac arrest on January 23, 1997 while playing intramural basketball. Kevin set the example of the passion and sincerity we should bring to each day. He was an individual with vision, commitment, abiding hope, aspirations, and compassion. And when we look back, it was a life, albeit a glimpse of life, by which people can be measured and judged by.
Mission
The mission of the Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship Fund is to preserve Kevin's spirit by paying tribute to achievements in academics, athletics, arts, and the virtues of service and faith that were the essence of Kevin's life.
Fund Facts
With 13 scholarships, valued at $164,500, awarded to the class of 2023, Kevin's Fund has provided nearly $2.9 Million in financial support to 235 exemplary young men and women matriculating at over 85 diverse colleges and universities in Kevin's memory. The dramatic growth in scholarship awards is directly related to the financial success of our annual benefit dinner dance, which began in 2000 and funded scholarships for the class of 2001. As a result of this generosity, Kevin's Fund has awarded the following scholarships
To the class of 1997 $3,750 To the class of 1998 $5,000 To the class of 1999 $12,000 To the class of 2000 $13,000 To the class of 2001 $47,000 To the class of 2002 $55,000 To the class of 2003 $70,000 To the class of 2004 $85,000 To the class of 2005 $100,000 To the class of 2006 $111,000 To the class of 2007 $127,000 To the class of 2008 $139,000 To the class of 2009 $140,000 To the class of 2010 $118,000 To the class of 2011 $117,000 To the class of 2012 $115,000 To the class of 2013 $121,000 To the class of 2014 $122,000 To the class of 2015 $124,000 To the class of 2016 $122,250 To the class of 2017 $124,000 To the class of 2018 $127,000 To the class of 2019 $128,000 To the class of 2020 $128,000 To the class of 2021 $126,500 To the class of 2022 $156,000 To the class of 2023 $160,500 To the class of 2024 $164,500
For the 2024 – 2025 academic year, Kevin’s Fund is providing financial support to 14 students matriculating at Berklee College of Music, Boston College (2), College of William & Mary, Columbia (2), The George Washington University, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Stanford, Temple, UConn, Univerisity of Wisconsin, and UMass-Amherst.
| Scholarship Fund Accomplishments as of June 30, 2023 | |
| Recipients | 235 |
| Awards | $2,864,500 |
| Funding as % of Contributions | 99.5% |