Rockdale Citizen

Photo by Nate McCullough

CONYERS -- Since 2006, The Aubrae Gunderson Memorial Scholarship Fund has been giving out scholarships to student-athletes at Heritage High School. This year, due to overwhelming donations and support of the memorial fund, the scholarship offer has been extended to student athletes at Rockdale County and Salem high schools.

This year's scholarship winners were Nadia Bryan, Melissa Drish and Mike Dontfraid from Heritage High School, and Katie Ferrell from Rockdale High School. These students were 2010 graduates and plan to attend college in the fall. They each received a $1,250 scholarship to put toward their tuition.

Gunderson was a sophomore at Heritage High School on Sept. 26, 2005, when she was struck and killed by a car while training with her cross country team.

Each November since that time, The Aubrae Gunderson Memorial 5K and Mile Fun Run has been held at Heritage High School to remember her and raise money for the fund. The support the Gunderson family continues to receive is tremendous, and Aubrae's father, Dan Gunderson, said they always wanted to one day extend the scholarship offer to all student athletes from the county's three high schools. This year, they were finally able to make it happen after having nearly 600 participants in last year's run.

"We continue to try and grow it, but we want to keep it very family oriented," Gunderson said. He added the importance of keeping people aware of the reason for the fundraiser.

Students must be nominated by their coaches for the scholarship, who first and foremost look for someone that possesses qualities that Aubrae had, such as compassion, respect and leadership. Students must also meet the criteria for the scholarship, which include participation in two varsity sports (or one sport and marching band), a grade point average of at least a 3.0, and students must be a graduating senior attending college in the fall. They will then be interviewed by Aubrae's parents, write an essay, and speak with someone who would tell them Aubrae's story.

Gunderson said the scholarship is now being given to students who may not have known Aubrae and the family wants to make sure they understand what it's about and who she was. "It's not about being the best athlete, it's about being a student-athlete," he added.

Aubrae was an excellent student, maintaining a 3.95 grade point average, while lettering in cross country and soccer. More than that, she was a daughter and a big sister, admired and loved by those who knew her. Aubrae set the standard for the scholarship, her dad said. That's what makes it unique, he added.