Students receiving scholarships from a foundation honoring Kelli Joy O’Laughlin, who was killed during a home break-in, vow to carry on her legacy of compassion and caring.
The Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Fund was established by Kelli’s family to keep her memory alive by supporting young people’s future education opportunities for young people. It was founded after Kelli, then a freshman at Lyons Township High School, was murdered during a 2011 burglary of her Indian Head Park home.
The foundation’s goal, according to its website, “is to give young people opportunities to develop their greatest potential of friendship, kindness, leadership skills, confidence as well as their education through college scholarships and other charitable activities.”
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The foundation provides a $2,500 award to students chosen from applicants from Lyons Township High School, a $1,500 scholarship to students from nearby schools and a $1,000 scholarship for a student from within the state of Illinois.
The recipients of the $2,500 scholarship are Lyons Township High School students Matthew Petrak, Weston Credit and Nina Crouchelli, all of La Grange, as well as Diana Kafkes and Emily Markert of Western Springs and Hannah Dutler of Countryside.
The winners of the $1,500 scholarship are Claire Cvengros of Burr Ridge, who attends Hinsdale South High School, James Walker, of Hinsdale, who goes to Hinsdale Central High School, Brianna McCormick and Sean Goldman, both of Oak Park, who attend Fenwick High School, and Brenna Fritzche of Western Springs and Mary Elizabeth (Lily) Franko of La Grange Park, who both attend Nazareth Academy.
As the applicant from within the state, Simone Johnson of Mother McCauley High School in Chicago, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
The recipients have to have at least a 3.0 grade point average based on a 4.0 scale. They also need to demonstrate caring and compassion for others. They submitted recommendations and an essay describing how they’ve shown caring for others.
Kelli’s father, John O’Laughlin, said the requirements were established to reflect his daughter, Kelli, who was a solid, if not straight A, student and who had many friends.
A committee, including O’Laughlin, reviewed the applications. All of the scholarships are renewable for for up to four years.
“We enjoy reading about the kids and what the recommendations say about them,” said O’Laughlin. “It takes a lot of time, but it’s enjoyable.”
One of the winners, Nina Crouchelli, plans to attend the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana.
She remembers being in grade school when Kelli lost her life.
“I took the loss to heart,” she said. “I saw myself in her and my younger sister, too. I’ve tried to support the cause in any way I can.”
Crouchelli has taken part in an annual run and in other events to raise money and support the foundation.
“This is another way I can support the cause,” she said.
She wrote in her application about how she demonstrated the sort of compassion Kelli was known for when she helped a friend who suffers from depression.
“I made an effort to reach out to her, and connect with her,” Crouchelli said.
The foundation has awarded $295,500 in scholarships since it was started in 2012 and has supported 47 students, O’Laughlin said.
In writing her application, another recipient, Lily Franko, said she focused in her essay on her volunteer work and her participation in tennis, a sport that Kelli also played. She plans to study nursing at St. Louis University.
Carrying on Kelli’s legacy as she pursues her college career is important to her.
“It’s something I will think about,” she said. “I know I have to honor and represent her.”
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