Scholarship established in memory of former AHS student

The Sarah Chapman “Ray of Sunshine” Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established by her parents, Charles and Gloria Chapman, at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Additionally, her friends, family and fellow students contributed funds to the endowment. They established the scholarship to honor Chapman, a third year marketing major and communications art minor student at UAH, who was killed in a bicycle accident late last summer near the university’s campus.

“Two days before her death, Sarah told members of her sorority that she wanted to be remembered as a ray of sunlight that brightened everyone’s day. With this scholarship, she will forever brighten the lives of UAH students who receive the scholarship,” her parents said. “At the time of her death, she was receiving three scholarships. Establishing this scholarship is a way to give back to the university. She loved her college experience at UAH and she was very involved with campus activities. She had wonderful friends and teachers who loved her. This is our way of saying thanks to UAH.

“We would also like to thank our friends who helped build the scholarship fund; parents and teachers of Heritage and Columbia Elementary Schools in Madison, friends and colleagues at Athens State University and Sarah’s UAH friends and faculty members. Their outpouring of love and support helped us get through the past nine months.”

The scholarship will be presented annually beginning in 2010 to outstanding female students enrolled in the College of Business Administration with first preference going to sophomore students who demonstrate leadership potential and who are actively involved in campus activities.

Chapman began attending UAH three years ago. She served in the Student Government Association and was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She also served as a Lancer, the official student ambassadors for the university. Friends and faculty at UAH remember Chapman as an intelligent and hard working young woman, who possessed a natural curiosity and an abundance of confidence.

She graduated from Athens High School in 2006 where she was the yearbook editor and was active in many clubs and organizations such as the Sub Deb Service Society.