Clear Channel Radio’s KOA Awards Scholarships In Memory Of Columbine Victims

Clear Channel Talk KOA-AM/DENVER recently announced the recipients of this year’s Never Forgotten Fund scholarships. The scholarship’s 13 recipients, 12 students and one teacher, are selected annually for $5,000 scholarships to honor the memory of the 13 lives lost in the school shootings.

The 2008 recipients include:

Allison Daley, presented in memory of Cassie Bernall
Bethany Hyatt, presented in memory of Daniel Rohrbough
Alexandra Moore, presented in memory of Isaiah Shoels
Brittany Swink, presented in memory of Steve Curnow
Kelton Minor, presented in memory of Corey Depooter
Cathy Lam, presented in memory of Daniel Mauser
Bahaureh Tanya Mohseni, presented in memory of Matt Kechter
Kaitlyn Tekip, presented in memory of Lauren Townsend
Kathleen Ellis, presented in memory of Kyle Velasquez
Nicole Christine Miller, presented in memory of John Tomlin
Leigh Ann Slinger, presented in memory of Kelly Fleming
Blair Anne Hensen, presented in memory of Rachel Scott
Shari Vanhaselen, presented in memory of David Sanders

Following the Columbine tragedy in April 1999, 850 KOA created The Never Forgotten Fund. The fund ensures that the names of the 13 lost at Columbine are never forgotten by awarding one scholarship annually in each of their names. In the initial year, the scholarships were awarded exclusively to Columbine students. Subsequently the scholarship application process was broadened to include students and faculty from the entire Denver Metro area. A selection committee of community leaders, including Columbine High School and Clear Channel Radio-Denver representatives, review the applications and select the 13 scholarship recipients. A recognition dinner is held each year to honor the recipients as well as those lost at Columbine.

The 12 students and one teacher are selected each year to exemplify volunteerism and leadership within their school and surrounding community. They are each awarded a one-time $5,000 scholarship. Each scholarship is awarded in the name of a life lost at Columbine. To date, over $1.8 million has been raised through corporate donations and the sale of the “Never Forgotten” pin to thousands of 850 KOA listeners and the listeners to Clear Channel’s seven other Denver radio stations. Over $650,000 has been awarded.

The fund is a 501(c)(3) and is now a part of The Denver Foundation who along with 850 KOA and its parent company, Clear Channel Communications, Inc., will assure that those lost at Columbine will never be forgotten.