DURANT – The Colton Trace Sherrill Memorial Scholarship has been endowed through the Southeastern Foundation to benefit students attending Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Colton’s parents, Trace and Dena Sherrill, said the endowed scholarship is to honor Colton and keep his memory alive for years to come while helping area students to further their education.
Colton passed away June 11, 2008, of congenital heart disease only a few days short of his 11th birthday while participating in a Southeastern basketball camp. He was an avid sports enthusiast and especially enjoyed basketball and soccer.
This is established as a tuition scholarship to be awarded to a graduate of a Bryan County high school. Preference will be given to a student who shows academic potential, leadership qualities and has a demonstrated financial need. Preference will also be given to students who have participated or are participating in band/music or athletics.
His memory is also honored through the dedication of Colton’s (Soccer) Field at the Durant Multi-Sports Complex. A ceremony was held and a monument unveiled on September 27, 2008.
Colton’s parents have given scholarships to area students over the last three years from memorial donations. People continue to contribute through donations and their support of Colton’s Main Street Run. The popular Main Street Run was started to raise money for the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), training for school personnel in the use of AEDs and CPR, and to raise money for the Durant Main Street Program, for which Colton was a volunteer.
Colton’s father, a Special District Judge, is a 1989 graduate of Southeastern. The Sherrills selected the Southeastern Foundation to administer the scholarship because the University is a vital part of the community.
“This is a community where helping and supporting one another is important and we feel Southeastern is best suited to accomplish the purpose of this scholarship,” Dena said. “We want to help provide greater opportunity for higher education for students from Bryan County schools who have demonstrated financial need and have demonstrated leadership through their activities and academics.”
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