PORTSMOUTH, Va. - A Regent University scholarship will annually benefit a Hampton Roads student that lost his or her parent to a homicide.
Dr. Pat Robertson, Chancellor and CEO of Regent University, made the announcement at the 2015 Inductee Awards Dinner program for the I.C. Norcom Athletics High School Hall of Fame.
The scholarship, "Omar Booker Memorial Scholarship," is in honor of 18-year-old Omar Booker.
Booker was shot to death outside of a Portsmouth sub shop back on January 20th, leaving behind a then one-year-old son, Quinton.
"He's not here but he's still helping people, and that's a blessing," says Omar's mother, Maxine Vinson.
Maxine and her husband Franklin attended the dinner on Saturday night for the scholarship announcement. However, there was a second announcement, that they were not told about.
Dr. Robertson surprised them by presenting a full, four-year scholarship to Quinton should he decide to attend Regent and is admitted.
"We are very honored and surprised. That's one thing we will not have to worry about," says Maxine. "He'll make something out of his life, go to school, be somebody."
The Omar Booker Memorial Scholarship fund is worth approximately $25,000, endowed by members of the community, according to Regent officials.
There are plans to do more fundraising before the spring of 2017 when the first award will be made.
