Two hundred and fifteen people attended the Jonathan Page Memorial Scholarship Fund beef and beer fundraiser, Saturday, Aug. 25 at the Woodbine Swim Club in Pennsauken.
Eight silent auctions items, more than 40 chance auction baskets and a 50/50 auction raised approximately $10,500 for the scholarship fund, said Risa Page, media contact for the scholarship fund and Jon’s sister-in-law.
Jonathan Page, 32, a Merchantville native, went to school at Bishop Eustace Preparatory school. Page had a love for science. He graduated from Cornell University in 2000 with a degree in Physics. In 2010, Page and his wife died in a car accident in California where they were living at the time.
The scholarship fund was set up to honor Page and his love for science. It was created to provide scholarships to Bishop Eustace Preparatory seniors who share Page’s passion.
According to Page, Jon’s parents, Nancy and Bob Page, were the first to donate money toward the inaugural scholarship in 2011. Risa and her husband, Chris Page, also contributed toward the scholarship fund in 2012 by using favors from their wedding in June. A group of Jon’s friends from California also contributed to the scholarship fund in 2012.
Frank DeVone, a resident of Voorhees, received the scholarship in 2011 for $1,000. He is currently attending Ursinus College in pursuit as a double major in math and physics.
DeVone graduated from Bishop Eustace in 2011 and he is looking forward to going back to Ursinus. He is also glad that the beef and beer was just in time before he leaves for college.
“I knew that I was going to be a physics major,” DeVone said.
Between AP course and a passion for math and physics, DeVone couldn’t think of anything else he wanted to do during his time in college.
“You never really stop learning with physics and what you learn one day can be wrong the next,” DeVone said.
When DeVone received the scholarship, he didn’t know what to expect. He couldn’t believe that he was chosen.
“When they called my name I was like ‘Wait, this Frank DeVone?’” DeVone said.
DeVone does plan on continuing his education to receive his PhD, but he said he still has time to decide.
“The beef and beer is the first of what we hope will be many events each year that will help us grow the scholarship and continue to support students from Bishop Eustace,” Page said.
For more information on the scholarship fund, visit the Jonathan Page Memorial Scholarship Facebook page.
