Scholarship honors LaLuzerne's life

(Photo: Courtesy of Lori LaLuzerne)

Two former Sturgeon Bay High School graduates are trying to raise $60,000 for a scholarship to honor former classmate Adam LaLuzerne.

LaLuzerne, formerly of Sturgeon Bay, and friends Kurt Ahonen of Suamico and Dylan Abeyta of Sturgeon Bay were swept off the South Pier breakwall in Sheboygan July 17. Abeyta was the only one of the three men to survive. A fourth friend who was not knocked into the water, Jeremy Wheat, called the U.S. Coast Guard.

Peter Dahl of Sturgeon Bay knew LaLuzerne, Wheat and Abeyta from high school, and Ahonen from St. Norbert College. All four attended St. Norbert. Dahl came up with the idea of creating a scholarship, now called The Adam LaLuzerne Humanitarian Scholarship, within days of LaLuzerne and Ahonen's deaths.

"Basically, just in the wake of Adam's passing I think for me and for a lot of people, we knew how committed Adam was to community service. I found myself thinking about all the good Adam was going to do with his life if he was given more time," Dahl said.

Dahl, who graduated from both high school and college with LaLuzerne, was not a close friend. He explained that everyone, including himself, liked LaLuzerne. Dahl also admired him for his kindness to others and his call to serve.

Once he settled on the idea of a scholarship, Dahl wrote a post on Facebook asking for assistance. Another Sturgeon Bay classmate, Daniel Holdridge, answered the call.

Holdridge had been close childhood friends with LaLuzerne. The two grew apart as they got older.

"It's tough, you couldn't possibly overstate what a kind, generous person Adam was," Holdridge said. "I think that can be shown by the impact the news had on the community."

A memorial service for LaLuzerne and Ahonen at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Sturgeon Bay was packed the day after the accident.

According to LaLuzerne's mother, Lori LaLuzerne, her son took part in mission trips and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and St. John Evangelist Homeless Shelter in Green Bay. He helped build homes in the Green Bay area and around the country.

"Adam was happiest while he was serving others. That's what kept him going and made him who he was," Lori LaLuzerne said. "Another thing he was always an advocate for equality and the dignity of all people."

She also recalls how he would bake elaborate cheesecakes for people's birthdays and as a child would do yardwork for neighbors.

During a school camping trip another student had no pillow or sleeping bag.

"He made sure they were warm enough and had what they needed," she said.

Scholarship

The scholarship will be open to Sturgeon Bay High School seniors, and is meant to honor LaLuzerne's love of service.

The biggest requirement for the scholarship is the student must have a "stellar record" of community involvement, including service projects, Holdridge said.

The two men are looking to raise $60,000 using the crowdfunding site YouCaring. As of Friday the men had raised a little more than $2,300. To donate online go www.youcaring.com and search "Adam LaLuzerne." Donations can also be sent to the Door County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 802, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. On the check indicate that the donation is for The Adam LaLuzerne Humanitarian Scholarship

The goal is to make the fund self-sustaining, Dahl said. Once the money is raised, the scholarship committee at Sturgeon Bay High School is expected to be responsible for choosing a yearly recipient and the Door County Community Foundation will oversee the funds.

"We want it to be very, very transparent," Holdridge said. "That all this money is going to be given to the Door County Community Foundation."

LaLuzerne's family is touched by Dahl and Holdridge's drive to make a lasting tribute to their son.

"I am in awe of the youth in this community that took the initiative and decided to create a scholarship to honor Adam's memory," Lori LaLuzerne said.

- svhernande@doorcountyadvocate.com, Samantha Hernandez on Facebook or 920-743-3321, ext. 112. 

Read or Share this story: http://gbpg.net/2bd8oXF

Source: Scholarship honors LaLuzerne's life