As friends and family brace for the second anniversary of the death of Stansbury High School student Jesse Horowitz, his parents are working to ensure his legacy continues on.
Matthew and Darcy Horowitz are currently raising funds for the Jesse Horowitz “Do Great Things With Your Life” Scholarship, which gives a graduating senior from Stansbury High School financial assistance toward their college education. The scholarship is intended to give one student the opportunity to better themselves and their community by attending college.
A GoFundMe effort has already netted $2,325 of the $5,000 goal for the scholarship fund from 43 different donors. The criteria for the award has changed this year, with applicants required to write an essay about not just what it means to be a good friend, but what great things the student plans to do with their life and how they would make a difference in their community, according to the Horowitz family.
The winner of the Jesse Horowitz Scholarship will be announced on May 23, which would have been Jesse’s 20th birthday. Darcy Horowitz will make the trip from Illinois, where the couple moved, to be in Stansbury Park to present the scholarship to the recipient.
Giving back to the Stansbury Park community through the scholarship is another way to show their appreciation of, and care for, the students, parents and teachers whose lives were positively impacted by Jesse, Matt Horowitz said.
“For us to have the ability to help and heal and have fun in Jesse’s name is a blessing,” he said. “It’s a lifeline.”
In addition to being a moment to remember Jesse, the scholarship presentation will be an opportunity for Darcy Horowitz to try her hand at public speaking. Since Jesse’s death, she has stated a desire to share her experiences as a parent who lost her child to violence, speak out against bullying and encourage people to speak up in potentially dangerous situations.
“It’s kind of going to be a practice run,” Darcy Horowitz said, of the five-minute speech preceding the presentation of the scholarship.
The message against bullying has been added to the list of important topics the Horowitzes hope to share with other families and students. Matt Horowitz said he believes that the man who killed his son was a bully.
Jesse Horowitz was stabbed to death in April 2014 by Larry Beach, 21, in the aftermath of a fight involving Horowitz’s friend and Beach’s cousin. After that fight ended, an altercation broke out between Horowitz and Beach, which ended in Beach stabbing Horowitz several times before fleeing the scene.
Beach, of San Antonio, was sentenced to up to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. As part of his plea deal with the state, Beach was sentenced for manslaughter but his terms will be served consecutively.
Jesse was a standout football player at Stansbury High School and viewed as a protector to other students who were subjected to bullying by other students, Darcy Horowitz said. Jesse planned to attend Dixie State University in St. George and play on the football team.
In memory of Jesse’s time as a student athlete, the Horowitzes also plan to fund at least one player on the Stansbury High School football team trip to football camp at Southern Utah University in Cedar City. Jesse attended the camp several times and it had a positive impact on him outside of his ability as a player, Darcy Horowitz said.
“I believe it gives them the camaraderie with other football players,” she said. “It gives them the opportunity to grow into their own.”
Matt Horowitz said Jesse would always come home from the football camp a little bit more grown up. The Horowitzes hope to extend that opportunity to another young athlete who can’t afford to go to camp.
The Horowitzes said their effort to help students at Stansbury High School mirrors the support Jesse’s former classmates, and their parents, have given them.
“The support that Darcy and I have gotten from that town has just been overwhelmingly beautiful,” Matt Horowitz said. “It’s a great community.”
To donate to the Jesse Horowitz Scholarship Fund, go to www.gofundme.com/passevhy, or contact Pam Keller, scholarship coordinator at Stansbury High School, at 435-884-7730, extension 4424.
Students at Stansbury High School can apply for the scholarship through April 1.