Eric's Fund: A Scholarship for a Creative

Eric's Fund is an annual, $1,000 scholarship to honor the memory of Eric Dalgo. Eric's Fund is granted to one graduating senior on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and one graduating senior in Seattle, Washington.

This fund will be granted to a student who is pursuing a degree in music, the visual or performing arts, creative writing, philosophy, or a related field. Eric's Fund also aims to reduce stigma around drug use while promoting awareness and education about overdose prevention.

We are currently accepting applications until May 1, 2025. High school seniors graduating in 2025 and enrolling in college/university for fall 2025 are eligible to apply. See application details below.

Eric graduated from Ocean Springs High School in 2008 and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Alabama in 2015 with additional studies in philosophy and anthropology. He was kind, funny, shy, curious, sensitive, and had a rich inner life.

Eric was a creative person with many hobbies including playing/composing music – primarily on guitar and piano. He was an autodidact, teaching himself to play pieces such as Moonlight Sonata and Für Elise. He loved nature, photography, thrifting, podcasts, video games, and philosophy. He enjoyed reading poetry by Walt Whitman and Khalil Gibran. He would happily spend an afternoon daydreaming, writing songs and poems, and thinking about words.

In February 2022, Eric died after taking counterfeit Xanax pills that contained a deadly dose of fentanyl, an illicitly manufactured opioid. He was 32 years old.

Eric's Fund aims to honor Eric's generosity and his artistic talents by providing needed financial support to a student who embodies Eric's creative, imaginative, and playful spirit. It also aims to educate young adults heading to college about how to keep themselves and their friends safe if they choose to use drugs.

About Eric

Application Process

Eligibility Criteria:

Must be a graduating high school senior attending a public school on the Mississippi Gulf Coast or Seattle Public School in Seattle, Washington.
Must have financial need for the grant.
Must be planning to attend college/community college and enrolling for Fall 2025 and pursuing a degree in music, the visual or performing arts, creative writing, philosophy, or a related field.*

*Successful applicants will be asked for proof of enrollment at the college or university they plan to attend. This involves submitting documents like a tuition receipt, course schedule, or official enrollment verification from the school's registrar's office.

Application Requirements:

Essay: A brief essay (500-700 words) discussing your passion for your chosen field and what inspired you to pursue it.
Letter of Recommendation: One letter of recommendation from a teacher, mentor, or community leader highlighting your passion for the arts, philosophy, or other creative field.
Proof of Enrollment: Documentation of enrollment at a Seattle Public School or public school on the MS Gulf Coast (can provide unofficial transcript; OR a recent class schedule; OR a copy of your student ID card; OR a letter from your school on school letterhead confirming your enrollment).
Resume: A resume outlining your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, volunteerism, or any other experiences you would like to highlight.
Online Training: Scholarship recipients will complete the OPC online overdose prevention training. This training will provide information on the signs of an overdose, how to administer naloxone, and ways to reduce the risk of overdose in their communities.
Video: Complete OPC's Online Overdose Prevention Training and then submit a simple, short video (no longer than 5 minutes) discussing your thoughts on harm reduction, overdose prevention, and how young people can work to make their campus and community safer. Feel free to share your unique perspective and ideas on any or all of these topics. No need to add special effects or use fancy editing software. We just want to hear and see you and listen to your unique perspective and voice.

Overdose Prevention Component:

After completing the online training, applicants will receive a Resource Kit from OPC in the mail, which will include naloxone.

Selection Process:

Applications will be reviewed by the OPC Scholarship Committee. The scholarship will be awarded based on the applicant's passion for their field as demonstrated in their essay, and the quality and creativity of their video submission.

Award Amount:

The recipient of Eric’s Fund will receive a $1,000 scholarship. One student will be chosen from Seattle and one student will be chosen from the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Application Deadline:

Applications must be submitted by May 1st each year.

Notification:

The recipient will be notified by June 1st each year.

Terms and Conditions:

The scholarship funds will be disbursed directly to the educational institution upon verification of enrollment.

To Apply:

Submit all materials listed above in the Application Requirements section to: odpreventioncollective@gmail.com no later than May 1st.