UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Since 2019, the Osaze Olufemi Osagie Memorial Scholarship for Educational Equity has supported eligible Penn State students who have intellectual and mental health diagnoses so they can have quality-of-life experiences while at the University, including up-to-date support academically, emotionally and socially.
Gifts by Osaze’s family, friends and the local community have provided more than $44,500 to the scholarship fund. The University matched donors’ support with a contribution of $25,000 in 2019 and an additional $50,000 in June 2020. The endowment supports a student each academic year; three students have been supported to date.
“The Osaze Osagie Memorial Scholarship is an important resource as it reduces the stress of some tuition costs and removes financial barriers for students,” said Marcus Whitehurst, vice provost for Educational Equity. “There’s great value in advocating for resources to support mental health, and this scholarship continues to help qualifying students successfully navigate Penn State as they achieve their academic goals.”
Housed in the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity, the scholarship fund was established in memory of Osaze Osagie, who was killed on March 20, 2019, in a police-involved shooting in State College, Pennsylvania. A former Penn State student who was 29 years old at the time of his death, Osagie was the son of Sylvester Osagie, faculty engagement coordinator and Faculty Fulbright Program adviser for Penn State Global, and Iyunolu Osagie, emeritus professor in the Department of English and the African Studies Program at Penn State and professor of English at Oregon State University.
"The pulse of our Penn State community is that we strongly believe in helping students rise above their intellectual and health challenges," Iyunolu Osagie stated. "I desire nothing more than to see students of all abilities encounter Penn State as an unforgettable and a rewarding experience in their Penn State journey. The Penn State community and Centre County residents always respond to the clarion call; Sylvester and I are so grateful for their continuing support of this memorial scholarship."
Those who wish to support the Osagie Scholarship can make a gift online.