Fund memorializes incoming 'U' student

Early this year, Ashley Easterbrook gained admission into the University's School of Nursing. But today she's not eating in the dining hall or rushing back and forth to class.

In June, days before her graduation from Troy High School, Ashley and her two friends, Andrew Stindt and Michael Jamieson, were killed in a car accident when a drunken driver slammed into her Pontiac Grand Prix.

Her parents, David and Gail Easterbrook, set up a memorial scholarship fund to fulfill Ashley's dreams to being a nurse. The fund will benefit a University Nursing student and area Troy high school students.

"The reason we set this up is that Ashley had a dream to serve others. But since she can't do this, obviously, we thought we'd do it for her," David Easterbrook said.

School of Nursing staff members remembered Ashley from her interview and look forward to working with the Easterbrook family.

SARA STILLMAN/Daily Gail and Dave Easterbrook, along with their son Adam, who is holding a picture of his sister Ashley, are establishing a scholarship for a sophomore in the School of Nursing program in memory of their daughter, who would have been a first-year Nursing student this fall.

"It was evident in my conversations with Ashley that she reflected the values, love and support strengthened by a lifetime of close family ties," said Dr. Suzanne Boehm, Nursing assistant dean for student affairs.

LSA first-year student Anne Kozowicz, Ashley's best friend, said the scholarship fund is exactly what Ashley would have wanted.

"Ashley loved to help others. That's what makes the scholarship fund so great, because she enjoyed helping people." Kozowicz said. "It's like continuing her helping. She would have been so honored to know that people would do this for her."

There will be four scholarships awarded from the Ashley Easterbrook Memorial scholarship fund. Two $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors from Troy High School, one $1,000 scholarship will go to a Troy Athens High School graduating senior, and one $1,000 scholarship will benefit a Nursing sophomore.

David Easterbrook said graduating seniors are eligible for the scholarships if they work hard and maintain a GPA of 3.74 or lower.

"Ashley always said that unless you were a 3.75 or greater you couldn't get a scholarship. My daughter worked very hard for her 3.5," he said. "We want to reward those who worked hard but couldn't pull those 4.0's."

Ashley's friends at the University miss her greatly. They say the scholarship fund will keep her memory alive.

"I remember her laughing. She was always in a good mood," said LSA first-year student Tom O'Neil. "She was never dull or never had a bad day."

"She would have been living in Mojo and working out a lot because she was a fanatic." Kozowicz said. "She was always a hard worker so she'd have a big planner. She'd organize her time. But she would definitely be having fun."

Though Easterbrook said he isn't sure of the exact requirements that a Nursing sophomore must meet, he hopes the recipient will be like Ashley.

"We are looking for those people who mirror Ashley's desire to help others, for people involved in programs that assist other people, someone who mirrors Ashley's background, ambitions and desires as mirrored in her portfolio," Easterbrook said.

The University's Nursing staff will help select the student who will receive the scholarship, but the Easterbrook family will have the final say on who receives the scholarships.

Boehm said Ashley's untimely death stifled all of her dreams.

"Becoming a nurse was a natural next step as Ashley's future began to take shape. She truly represented the type of individual that held great promise to be an outstanding nurse, leader and scientist," Boehm said. "It is a great tragedy for all of us that she was stopped short of realizing her dreams."

With the pain of his daughter's death still fresh in his mind, Easterbrook said he wants to warn University students about the dangers and terrors of drunk driving.

"People just don't think its a big deal to have a few beers and get behind the wheel of a car," he said. "In my opinion, and that of my family, it is murder."

According to the National Highway Traffic Saftey Administration, alcohol-related deaths among 15-20 year-olds has increased from 2,206 in 1995 to 2,315 in 1996. Last year marked the first time this figure has risen in seven years.

10-30-97