“We reached our fundraising goal and AU officially endowed the Matthew Shlonsky Memorial Fund”

Thanks to some of the organizers for passing on the update from American University:

“The School of International Service (SIS) is pleased to announce the official endowment of the Matthew C. Shlonsky Memorial Fund for the District of Columbia in honor of late SIS alumnus Matt Shlonsky, SIS/BA ’14, who fell victim to gun violence in Washington, DC, on August 15, 2015.

Nearly one year ago, in partnership with Matt’s family and friends, SIS Dean James Goldgeier announced efforts to endow a memorial fund to support SIS students working with faculty in collaborative research that addresses challenges that face the city of Washington, DC. Over the last year, Matt’s closest friends, many of whom are American University alumni, and Dean Goldgeier have shared Matt’s story and legacy through events and fundraisers to endow the fund.

“Matt loved DC. He loved the politics, the people, the culture, everything. I think this fund will allow him to continue to have a presence here in DC, a city he loved, even though he can’t be with us today” says Ben Matek, CAS/BS ’12, a friend of Matt’s who helped endow the fund.

Applications for the fund will be available in the fall of 2017. SIS students working with or under the supervision of SIS faculty will be eligible to apply for the fund to pursue research and scholarship that advances or addresses a variety of issues—from public health to economic development to the environment—surrounding Washington, DC. The fund encourages applicants to take their international affairs knowledge and develop high-impact research that supports our local community in the nation’s capital.

“This fund will be used to take advantage of the best SIS has to offer—our scholarship and our thought leadership—in service to our university’s home, Washington, DC. It’s a wonderful tribute to Matt, who enriched so many lives on campus and across DC,” said Dean Goldgeier.

More information about how to apply for the Matthew C. Shlonsky Memorial Fund for the District of Columbia will be available near the fall of 2017.

To learn more about Matt Shlonsky, click here. To support the Matthew C. Shlonsky Memorial Fund for the District of Columbia, click here.”