It has been almost a year since our community was devastated by the loss of grade 11 student Jaydon Sommerfeld. A life taken way too soon left everyone that knew this remarkable young man and his family heartbroken.
As the community rallied together in the days, weeks and months following Jaydon’s passing, we came together to support his grieving family and to support them through an unimaginable loss.
An online fundraiser was created and donations began to be collected at schools in Chestermere – and thus were created the Jaydon Sommerfeld Memorial Bursary. In a recent conversation with Kenton Sommerfeld, Jaydon’s father, we discussed the memorial fund and the amazing support the family received over the past year.
“We have had many people inquire as to how Jaydon’s bursary ended up and how much was raised. We feel it’s important to let everyone know what the total was
and that all of these funds are going to where they were intended. Our family is
overwhelmed by the amazing support from so many thoughtful, generous people and businesses from Alberta and across Canada”, said Kenton, Sheri and Brady.
The family has completed the required paperwork with the Rocky View School Division to have the Jaydon Sommerfeld Memorial Bursary become official. “The final total of $50,300.00 has been deposited into the Rocky View Schools account that will hold these funds for as long as they last and will now be managed by them. We are extremely pleased to share this final outcome”, explained the Sommerfeld family.
Starting this June, Chestermere High School will be awarding $500.00 bursaries to a minimum of four Chestermere High School graduating students to be used to further their education or promote their career ambitions. “These yearly bursaries will continue as long as there is money to do so”, says the Sommerfeld family.
“Our family and community lost an amazing, precious young man last June but if anything good can come out of this tragedy, we hope that his name and memories of him will live on for many years through this bursary that so many amazing people have been a part of”.
As the 2016 graduating class of Chestermere High School is getting prepared to make that long awaited walk across that stage get those well deserved diplomas, one beautiful face will be missing – that of Jaydon. When asked if the Sommerfeld family had a wish for Jaydon’s classmates, they responded saying:
“Our wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you’re out there gettin’ where you’re gettin’ to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
Yes this is taken from the lyrics of a wonderful Rascal Flatts song, but it’s truly what we would have wished for our Jaydon and also what we wish for his friends and classmates. As Parents we want nothing more than to see our children (and their friends) become successful, to be caring, to lend a hand when someone else needs it and to be the best person they can. As we look back on the past year, we need you to know that we are proud of all of you! We are proud of your hard work, we are proud of the way you support each other, we are proud of the amazing young adults you are becoming.
We know that for many of you this road has been extremely tough, many have said that it just wasn’t the same without Jaydon and we know it wasn’t but you did it! You have pushed through and persevered. We are so proud of you for that too. Jaydon would encourage you all to enjoy and love life and make it all it can be – Life’s too shorts! He’s smiling down on all of you today just as he was when you each walked that stage this week. For your parents, your families, for us and for Jaydon – live life to the fullest and be proud of yourselves! Congratulations to the class of 2016!”
