The city of St. Paul is channeling the loss of Philando Castile in a great new way.
The alumni from St. Paul Central High, where Castile graduated in 2001, have come together to create a scholarship in his honor.
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More than 500 people attended the “Central Honors Philando” fundraiser to raise money for the Philando Future Educator Scholarship.
By the end of the day, the alumni raised an astonishing $25,000 — $15,000 more than the intended goal.
The scholarship will be offered to a Central student from an underprivileged background interested in studying education or child development.
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“The idea is to help those from traditionally under-represented groups go to college,” Trevor Throntveit, secretary for the foundation, told the Twin Cities Pioneer Press.
Philando Castile was 32 years old when he was shot and killed by St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds and her 4-year-old daughter were in the car when the incident took place. Reynolds courageously streamed the aftermath of the shooting on Facebook Live which gained nationwide attention and highlighted the ongoing concern about police shootings in the United States.
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