Simon Wagner awarded the Richard Beckrow Memorial Scholarship
Aug 28, 2018
Simon Wagner, a senior at St. Joseph High School, has been awarded the Richard Beckrow Memorial Scholarship, a fund of Lory’s Place and Caring Circle. Simon will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
"It is such a pleasure to award this scholarship to Simon," Jason R. Beckrow, DO, FACOI, HMDC, Medical Director of Caring Circle said. "He is an excellent student with a bright future and we wish him all the best in his college endeavors."
High school seniors who have experienced the death of a parent, who will be pursuing a college or post-secondary education, and who are in financial need are able to apply for the Richard Beckrow Memorial Scholarship Fund. Scholarship applicants are identified and facilitated by Lory’s Place, a Grief Healing and Education Center in St. Joseph, MI.
Simon's father, Mike, died in June of 2017. The sudden death of the Lincoln Elementary School’s principal has left a hole for many in the St. Joseph school district. Film is one of the many connections Simon and his father had. "To me, this scholarship provides an opportunity for me to fulfill my dreams of filmmaking," said Simon. He hopes to create films his dad would be proud of. This fall Simon plans to attend Columbia College in Chicago or Western Michigan University to study filmmaking.
About the Richard Beckrow Memorial Scholarship Fund
Richard Beckrow was born in 1946 in Saginaw, Michigan. Starting from very humble beginnings, he worked hard to provide a better world for his family. He served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 where he learned skills he put to use throughout his life. He was a millwright at General Motors and a very talented skilled tradesperson. He built his own home where his wife Janice still resides today. Sadly, Mr. Beckrow died at the young age of 41; the result of an automobile accident.
Mr. Beckrow’s living legacy is seen in his three children whom he loved with all his heart. Although never attending college himself, Mr. Beckrow instilled the importance of higher education. In spite of the financial hardship that stemmed from his passing, all three Beckrow children attended college; a testament to his love and guidance. Mr. Beckrow taught his children that through hard work and dedication anything was possible, and he gave them a strong foundation on which to build their dreams.
The fund is also proud to honor the life and memory of Matt Mannino, a dear friend of Dr. Jason and Kate Beckrow and their children Justin and Caroline. Matt was diagnosed with a rare malignancy of the thymus gland in 2004 and bravely battled cancer for seven years. Sadly, Matt died in 2012 at the age of 44. Matt worked hard to provide his family and friends with all the love and support they would need to carry on after his death. We are proud to honor Matt's life and legacy by helping students who have faced the death of a parent.