MVCS Creates Scholarship Honoring Jaime Fernandez

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WATSONVILLE-- As the student body of Monte Vista Christian School recovers from being struck by the loss of senior Jaime Fernandez, the administration department works to create a scholarship in his name.

Fernandez was hiking in Big Sur in early march when he fell 100 feet into the Pacific Ocean. His body has not yet been recovered.

“While the (memorial) services themselves were a beautiful tribute to a life cut too short,” said Maria Hill, Director of Accounting, “it is the hope of the school to honor Jaime in a more lasting way.”

The criteria for the Memorial Scholarship will be largely decided by the Fernandez family. Because Fernandez would have been the first in his family to graduate college, the family will likely aim the scholarship toward students with similar circumstances.

Monte Vista gave $115,000 in financial aid during the 2014-15 school year. This private scholarship will add to that amount.

“Anyone may contribute to this scholarship in Jaime’s name,” said Hill. “You may bring donations directly to the business office or mail them to the school to the attention of the business office.”

Along with the scholarship, the school has created a bank account to support the Fernandez family. To contribute to the fund, concerned students and parents may go to Santa Cruz County Bank and ask to deposit to the Jaime Fernandez Family Memorial account.

Any amount of money contributed will help the Fernandez family move on from the loss of their son and the expenses of the memorial.

“I think the best way to honor Jaime is just to live life,” said junior Mary Weatherford, friend of Jaime. “He was so full of life. It’s not like him to want us to be sad about him forever.”

The senior class, along with the entire school, has been greatly touched by Jaime’s life and legacy, and may never forget the impact he had on the lives of those who knew him. While the loss of a young life is always a tragedy, those who knew Fernandez best try to honor his existence by remembering the way he lived, not the way he died.

“When I was there (at Big Sur) with Jaime, he looked over the edge down at the waves and just stood there for a few moments staring at the beauty of the coastline,” wrote senior and good friend of Fernandez, Patrick Moran on his Instagram. “He would eventually fall from about a week later - he was a pretty clumsy guy. This is the most spectacular place I have ever been to and I can't imagine a better place to go out at. Life is wild and unpredictable, do something exciting with it.”

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