State High Senior Receives ‘Osaze’s Heart’ Scholarship

A State College Area High School senior is the second annual recipient of a scholarship created in memory of Osaze Osagie.

Luis Otarola received the 2023 Osaze’s Heart Community Service Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded by an endowment committee to racially underrepresented high school students from State College who have a demonstrated commitment to community service.

Named in honor of Osagie, the 29-year-old State College man who was shot and killed in a confrontation with borough police who had come to his home on March 20, 2019 to serve a mental health warrant, the scholarship “is meant to perpetuate his spirit of volunteerism and giving,” according to the committee.

Otarola has been involved in many local community service activities, serving as vice president of the Key Club and volunteering with organizations such as Toys for Tots, the State College Food Bank and Red Cross. He also has worked with Young Life, which helps disadvantaged middle- and high-school students and teen mothers find safe places to sleep, meals and personal supplies.

At State High, he is active in Cheer and Mini-THON, has a varsity letter in lacrosse and is a member of the National Spanish Honor Society. Otarola will attend Ohio State in the fall and plans to major in biomedical and pharmaceutical science.

“This scholarship means so much to me since I will be able to move forward with my studies and serve the community at The Ohio State University,” Otarola said in a statement. “Having the opportunity to serve makes me not just better as a person, it also gives me the chance to be myself and teach our community ways to improve and collaborate with one another.”

The Osaze’s Heart Community Service Scholarship is administered through Centre Foundation. The endowment committee includes Savita Ahrestani, Chip Aikens, Rich Bundy, Felisa Preciado Higgins, Trish Hummer, Nalini Krishnankutty, 2022 recipient Elana Laing, Ezra Nanes, Charima Young and Osagie’s parents, Iyun and Sylvester Osagie,

“Community service begins with a heart that can identify with plight of others and the courage to do something to make a difference,” Sylvester and Iyun Osagie said in a statement. “In spite of the many financial and social challenges he and his family faced, Luis Otarola embodies Osaze’s spirit of caring through a giving heart. He has served the State College community and beyond sacrificially and we are proud of him.”