Stephanie Smith Memorial Fund helping Houston students

The family and friends of Stephanie Smith are pleased to announce that scholarship money is being distributed through a memorial fund established for the Houston High School athlete who was killed July 5, 2001, in an automobile accident.

The family and friends of Smith established the memorial fund "to demonstrate our admiration and love for the person she embodied," they wrote.

The fund provide scholarship awards at Houston High School for students with high performances in academics, sportsmanship and enrollment in extra-curricular activities, such as Business Professionals of America and student government.

During the last school year, six awards were presented to students and organizations.

The all-around sport award of $100 was given to Taylor Richey, a Houston basketball player. The $100 all-heart award was given to wrestler Jesse Belgarde, and $150 was given to the Business Professionals of America discretionary fund to be used for student activities.

Three graduating seniors also earned awards. Russell Shurtleff was awarded $500, while Kerrie Aldeman and Christine Loeffler each were awarded $250.

The three graduating seniors qualified for the awards through their participation in sports and extra-curricular activities, high academic marks and an essay.

The family and friends of Smith wanted to thank everyone who has made the memorial scholarship fund a success.

Those wanting to donate to the fund can do so by donating money to Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union account 64715.

For more information about the fund, interested people can contact Teresa Kowalski at 495-8372.