February 7, 2005

Portland Trail Blazers President Steve Patterson announced the donation of $40,000 to help start a scholarship fund at Portland State University in the name of Justin Eyerly, an Oregon National Guard soldier killed in Iraq June 4, 2004. Eyerly was a graphic design intern with the Trail Blazers.

"The Trail Blazers are pleased to be able to assist in efforts to contribute to a memorial scholarship fund in Justin's name. We are saddened to lose such a young talented artist and thought it would be a fitting tribute to honor the service of a Justin, who had such clear plans for how he would use those talents." said Trail Blazers President Steve Patterson. "Over the next several years, we will continue to assist the growth of this endowed scholarship through our scoreboard message program and additional matching funds. The total value of this donation is $40,000." For the next three years, people wishing to put up a birthday or other type of greeting on the scoreboard make a donation to the Eyerly Fund, which will be matched by the Trail Blazers.

School of Fine & Performing Arts Department of Art Chair, Susan Agre-Kippenhan said, "Like a lot of his peers developing their skills here at PSU, Justin worked in a variety of media and applied himself in the community. He had completed an internship with the Portland Trail Blazers, helping to design their website. This gift by the Trail Blazers will help build on our intent to award a scholarship to a sophomore Art student this year. Additionally, the Trail Blazers will provide an annual internship position for the recipient of the scholarship, a valuable real-world experience for designers."

Contributions to the Eyerly Scholarship Fund can be sent to the School of Fine & Performing Arts, P.O. Box 751 Portland, Oregon 97207-0751.

Click here to read more about Justin Eyerly.