PORT NECHES, Texas — A scholarship fund has been launched in memory of a Port Neches-Groves High School student who passed away unexpectedly in October 2022.
Morgan Christian died from an undiagnosed medical condition on Friday, October 14, 2022. She was 17-years-old.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above is from an October 18, 2022 newscast.)
Christian was a senior at Port Neches-Groves High School. She played the flute for the Purple Pride Band and was a member of the NDN Press.
On October 18, 2022, both organizations came together to host a candlelight vigil.
Now four months after her death, a scholarship managed through The Foundation of Southeast Texas has been launched to help keep her memory alive.
This scholarship will be awarded to two students, one from the PNG Band and one from the NDN Press.
This money can be applied to the students' chosen college.
Morgan's mom, Shelly M. Christian, says they hope to continue this scholarship for many years to come.
"It is one way of many ways we have chosen to keep her memory alive," she said.
How to contribute to the scholarship fund:
- Click on “become a philanthropist”
- Use drop down to choose the scholarship you want to donate to (Morgan L. Christian PNG NDN Press Memorial Scholarship fund or Morgan L. Christian PNG Band)
- Once you choose the fund, you can choose donation amount and pay either via PayPal or with debit/credit card
A check can also be mailed to:
Foundation of Southeast Texas
700 North St.
Beaumont, TX 77701
In the memo line, put which scholarship you want to fund or put Morgan Christian's name and then the amount will be split among the two funds.
One person who attended October 2022 vigil for Christian was Mike Tobias.
Tobias was not only Christian's photography teacher, but he is also her uncle.
"There's something about having a family member in your classroom every other day, and then seeing her, " Tobias previously told 12News. "So, as far as being a student here, that's something I'm definitely going to miss."
Tobias was the first to bring up the idea of a vigil for his niece.
"I sort of like threw it out there, 'Hey, you know, this is something that we could do,'" Tobias said. "I left it to my students. As soon as I said, they ran with it. This is student-led. This is not me arranging it."
One moment Tobias recalled was a recent trip to San Antonio his niece and seven other journalism students took.
"Had the greatest time in the world," Tobias said. "It was a weekend of playing songs in the van all the way there. We had our class sessions there. We were able to explore the city, learn some things. She came back with two awards for photography."
