A month after the death of Savitha Shanmugasundaram, a 21-year-old student of Indian origin at the University of Texas, her family and friends are working to move forward with what matters most to her: helping others get an education.According to a report by the Austin American-Statesman, they are raising money to create a scholarship at the University of Texas for students coming from Title I schools. The idea is simple but long-term, and aims to support students who may not have the same opportunities.The plan is to raise $500,000, which the university will match under the Texas Challenge program, by building a $1 million endowment.
Once established, the scholarship is expected to support between 8 and 10 students each year.For her family, the initiative was closely linked to who Savitha was and what she believed in. “She’s making sure her legacy lives on,” her father Shan Muthian told the Austin American-Statesman. “She is passionate about serving underserved students. So, by creating the scholarship, her dream has come true.”Her mother also thought about how they would continue to remember her.
“We still celebrate her,” she said, speaking to the Austin American-Statesman, highlighting how her memory remains central to their lives.Those who knew her say the effort reflects her constant focus on giving back. The goal is not just to provide financial assistance, but to create a cycle of support that continues for more than one generation. “Students who receive the fellowship… can pay it forward to the next generation.
So the series continues, her father added.Her friends also see the scholarship as a reflection of her personality. “The endowment actually highlights how much she cares about others,” said one of her close friends, adding that it exemplifies the impact she had on those around her.The scholarship will be administered by the University of Texas, and donations are currently being accepted to build the fund.For her family and friends, it’s not just about remembering her, it’s about pursuing something she believes in, making education easier and ensuring her efforts continue through the opportunities created for others.
