Scholarship Speech - Year 4

Last night we presented the Emma Jane von Euler Music Scholarship for the 3rd year.  It is one more emotional hurdle for us in a week full of hurdles that we need to get through every year, including: Father's Day, the anniversary of Emma's death, the presentation of the scholarships, the end of the school year for Peter, our wedding anniversary, and Emma's birthday. We try hard to find as much peace, meaning, or joy in each of these milestones as we can. That is how we survive. 

Here is this year's scholarship presentation speech:

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Good evening. My name is Nancy von Euler and this is my husband Peter. When we established this scholarship 4 years ago we had 3 goals in mind. First, we wanted to celebrate our daughter's rich, if too short, life. Second, we wanted to provide a little help and encouragement to our award winners that we hope will help them achieve their dreams. And, lastly, we wanted to use the award presentation as an opportunity to share some information that maybe, just maybe, would save a young person's life. 

Our daughter, Emma, was a bright, beautiful, and talented young woman. She LOVED music! She danced, sang, and played the flute, piccolo, saxophone, clarinet, and guitar. By the age of 16, she had performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, West Point, and Canterbury Cathedral. She dreamed of a life as a professional musician. Emma was also kind and compassionate. She was a defender of underdogs everywhere and always had a shoulder for her friends to lean on.  

Emma died by suicide. She is not alone. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34. Suicide claims nearly as many lives each year as breast cancer; and as of 2010, more people in the United States lost their lives to suicide than in car accidents.

Now, I just attended a driver's ed class with my younger daughter, so I know that most of you have a healthy appreciation for the risks of driving.  If you are a woman, I’d be willing to bet that you have been told about the risk factors for breast cancer and taught how to do a breast self-exam. But, I suspect that you know very little about the risk factors for suicide.  You probably think of suicide as being an extreme reaction to a failed relationship, lost job, or family crisis. The truth is, in 90% of deaths by suicide, the underlying cause is a diagnosable, although sometimes undiagnosed, mental illness.  

The good news is mental illness is treatable. But to be treated, you need to seek help. You have to take your mental health as seriously as you take your physical health.   So, here is what I want all of you to do. When you step onto the campus of your new school next fall, find out where the health center and the counseling center are. Chances are they were not pointed out when you went on your campus tour. If you are an over-achiever, as I suspect many of you here tonight are, go in; find out what the hours are and what services they offer; introduce yourself to the staff; get comfortable and familiar. That way, should you ever not feel well, physically OR mentally, you'll know just where to go, and just who to ask for.  

Fairfield Warde High School

This year’s scholarship winner is a violinist who is a member of the Tri-M music honor society and performs with the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestra. She is active in the community, organizing benefit concerts and serving as the assistant youth choir director for a Bridgeport church.  She looks forward to studying music and history in college. We are thrilled to present the Emma Jane von Euler Music Scholarship to Bridget Halstead.

Fairfield Ludlowe High School

This year’s scholarship winner is a talented vocalist who has been selected to the Tri-M music honor society, All-State Choir, and Close Harmony. She has been active in the community, putting in over 250 hours of service with Wakeman’s Keystone Club and singing with her church choir. We are thrilled to present the Emma Jane von Euler Music Scholarship to Timoney Campbell.