Osagie Scholarship Endowment Surpasses $100,000 Fundraising Goal

The Osaze Osagie College Scholarship Endowment Committee announced on Thursday that it has surpassed its $100,000 fundraising goal and will award its first scholarship this spring.

The scholarship is named in memory of Osaze Osagie, the 29-year-old State College man who was fatally shot during a confrontation with borough police who had come to his home on March 20, 2019 to serve a mental health warrant.

According to the committee, the scholarship “is meant to perpetuate his spirit of volunteerism and giving.” The first scholarship of $5,000 will be awarded in May to a racially underrepresented high school student in State College with a commitment to community service.

A total of $107,284 has been raised for the scholarship. The campaign was publicly launched in August 2021 with $64,000 already accrued during the silent phase. Donations have included a $25,000 gift from the Palmer Foundation and individual gifts from more than 200 community members, including $7,332 raised on Giving Tuesday in November.

“The response by our local community has been remarkable,” committee member Charima Young said in a news release. “Now, we are focused on selecting the first student who will receive the scholarship.”

Committee members expect to award one $5,000 scholarship per year, although that could increase as the endowment grows.

“Our family is touched beyond words at how the community has come together to support this scholarship created in the spirit of Osaze’s love of community and volunteerism,” Sylvester Osagie, Osaze’s father, said. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received and look forward to supporting young students’ commitment to volunteerism in our son’s name, for years to come.”

Donations to the scholarship endowment can be made through Centre Foundation.

No charges were filed against the police officers involved in Osagie’s death. After an investigation by Pennsylvania State Police, District Attorney Bernie Cantorna concluding the shooting was justified.

The Osagie family filed a federal lawsuit against the borough and officers in 2020. That case is still pending.