UNC Charlotte and Union County Public Schools administrators joined friends and family of Ellis Reed Parlier on Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Central Academy of Technology and the Arts (CATA) in Monroe, North Carolina, to announce the Reed Parlier Memorial Scholarship.
Parlier, a CATA graduate, was one of two UNC Charlotte students who lost their lives last April 30 when a gunman opened fire in a classroom. The scholarship was established to honor Parlier's life and memory and to mark his impact on the UNC Charlotte community. The fund, established by the contribution of an anonymous donor and friends of the Parlier family, will be administered by UNC Charlotte’s College of Computing and Informatics (CCI).
The four-year scholarship will be awarded by a scholarship committee to an incoming first-year student with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given to students who are CATA graduates and plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
“Buildings come and go, but scholarships leave a lasting impact on students’ lives year after year. Recipients of the Reed Parlier Memorial Scholarship will carry his legacy with them on their journey at UNC Charlotte and beyond,” said Claire Kirby, UNC Charlotte director of admissions.
Parlier was studying software development at UNC Charlotte with plans to become a game developer. He is remembered by loved ones as a kind, quiet, witty young man with a generous and loving spirit, contagious laugh, strong connection to his family and his singular sense of humor.
Interested students may apply for the Reed Parlier Memorial Scholarship using the NinerScholars Portal. The application deadline is Feb. 15, 2020.