As jury selection continued on Friday, Sept. 13, in the Dallas area for the charge of Amber Guyger, who is accused of killing Harding alumnus Botham Jean in 2018, Harding sought to commemorate Jean\u2019s life by granting four students the Botham Jean Business Scholarship for the first time.<\/p>\n
According to United Press International Inc., State District Judge Tammy Kemp finalized the jury on Sept. 14. Nearly 400 potential jurors arrived for interviews Friday morning, but both media coverage and the nature of the case complicated the process of seating an impartial jury. <\/p>\n
On Harding\u2019s campus, four students have become part of the story following Jean\u2019s death. Freshman Courtney Porter, sophomore Brittany Tate, junior Antonio Montez and senior Yui Kondo are the first recipients of the scholarship, which selected College of Business Administration students who are leaders in their community and members of a historically under-represented population.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means a lot because this scholarship is for historically under-represented populations,\u201d Tate said \u201cSo just to be able to get that recognition in the Business Department, where it\u2019s predominantly white males \u2026 To see [Jean] who made it through the business program and was successful and was able to represent himself well \u2026 is really awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Jean\u2019s employer at the time of his death, initially established the scholarship fund with a $50,000 gift. The combined contributions of PwC staff, partners and the PwC Matching Gift Program grew the scholarship to more than $600,000 as of Sept. 1. <\/p>\n
PwC\u2019s managing partner for Greater Texas, Scott Moore, said, \u201cBo was a dear friend and colleague to many of us here in Dallas \u2026 This fund is a tangible expression of Bo\u2019s compassion, caring and generosity that will live on for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though Guyger\u2019s trial process continues to move forward, complications may delay the trial. According to DMN, Guyger\u2019s attorneys asked to move the trial to another county to combat negative media coverage of Guyger in the Dallas area. Some DMN analysts say the alternate counties are more likely to yield a whiter and more conservative jury.<\/p>\n
The outcome of Guyger\u2019s trial remains to be seen, but for Porter, Tate, Montez, and Kondo, Jean\u2019s legacy is already evident.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis scholarship is especially meaningful to Harding because it honors Botham\u2019s life and continues his legacy at the University, \u201d Bryan Burks said, vice president of university advancement. \u201cIn telling his story, we challenge recipients to be great students and campus leaders, and most importantly, to follow Christ with their hearts. While Botham\u2019s life was cut short, he is remembered through this scholarship that will continue to impact the lives of our students for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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