As many of you know, we have been working with Salesianum School to set up a scholarship in Kevin’s honor. We are excited to announce that the Kevin Neary ‘00 Memorial Scholarship has been established!

Thanks to your extraordinary generosity, we were able to raise $100,000 to fund the Scholarship. As a result of reaching this milestone, we secured a match from Jacklyn and Miguel Bezos ‘63, resulting in a $200,000 endowment that will make a lasting impact for years to come.

The Scholarship will recognize one remarkable student every year who exemplifies Kevin’s positive spirit, resilience, determination to succeed, selflessness, and concern for others. The recipient of the Scholarship – a rising senior who embodies these qualities and contributes to the fabric of the Salesianum community – will have half the cost of a year’s tuition to Salesianum offset.

This Scholarship would not have been possible without your generosity. The Scholarship is funded by contributions from the Kevin Neary Trust, donations to Salesianum School after Kevin’s death, and the Neary family. It is our fervent hope that this Scholarship will both make a difference in the lives of remarkable students while also keeping Kevin’s legacy and spirit alive.

Join us to give thanks and celebrate! We hope you will join us for a celebration of this Scholarship at Salesianum School on Saturday, October 28, 2023. We will have a mass at 5:00 p.m. followed by a reception. All are welcome.

Register here. This is a free event as a thank you to all of you who have shown so much support over the years. Donations are not required.

It is the intention of the Neary family and Salesianum School to host a similar event in future years to honor Kevin’s legacy and celebrate his contribution to our lives. We want to thank Salesianum School for continuing to help us celebrate Kevin’s life and lasting impact on the community.

Full Scholarship Description

In his time at Salesianum, Kevin Neary ’00 exceeded expectations through a combination of hard work and intelligence, leading him toward the top of his class while maintaining a deep involvement in the Salesianum community. After Salesianum, Kevin continued his determination to succeed, graduating cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania.

After a gunshot wound rendered Kevin quadriplegic in 2011, Kevin’s physical abilities were diminished, but his resilience, courage, and determination never wavered. His relentlessly positive spirit and concern for others served as an inspiration for his family, friends, and the broader public, including the Salesianum community.

The Kevin Neary ’00 Memorial Scholarship will acknowledge a remarkable student who exemplifies these qualities and sets an example for others through his actions. The Scholarship will be awarded to a rising senior who demonstrates the following qualities that embodied Kevin Neary’s spirit and impact during his time at Salesianum and throughout his life:

• Positive attitude and spirit
• Resilience, work ethic, and determination to succeed, especially in the face of adversity 
• Selflessness and concern for others
• Contribution to the fabric of the Salesianum community

Preference will be given to students demonstrating financial need and/or those demonstrating physical or intellectual disabilities.

The Scholarship will be used to offset half the cost of tuition for the student’s senior year at Salesianum.