The first LOX Foundation scholarships were presented to four outstanding Springfield students Saturday afternoon during ceremony at the La Quinta Inn.
The first $1.000 "Looking on to Xcellence" awards come two years to the day after Ivery Downie, a 36-year-old father of three, was shot and killed.
On May 11, 2017 Downie, known to family and friends as "Lox," stopped by a gas station in the North End after an evening out with friends. He needed gas for his car and a pack of cigarettes. As he stood at an outside window paying for his purchase, someone walked up out of the shadows and shot and killed him. No one knows who did it. No one knows why.
Left with no answers to explain what happened Downie's family turned to make his life, and death, have meaning to the world.
Katrina Banks, Downie's sister, said Lox was a nickname that really had no significance. It was just one of those silly names we get stuck with. The family was able to use the name to memorialize him and what they feel he stood for.
"Lox was just a great guy," Banks said of her brother. "If you needed something there was no nothing about it, he would help out. He had such a big heart. To be able to do this is just so wonderful."
The recipients of the "Looking for Xcellence" scholarships are:
A'Miracle Golphin is a graduating senior at the Sabis International Charter School and plans to become a pediatrician. She will attend Northern Vermont University in the fall majoring in Pre-Med Biology with a minor in Music Performance-Voice.
Gabriel Fontan has a deep interest in electronics and plans to major in Electrical Engineering when he graduates high school this year.
Isaiah Longs, Jr., currently a senior at Springfield Central High School, plans to attend American International College in the fall where he will work toward masters degrees in Education and Business Administration. He hopes to work in education administration, but eventually would like to open a fighting arts academy here in Springfield.
Paris Lizana, a senior at Sabis International Charter School, has been accepted for the fall semester at George Mason University where she will attend the university's Honors College. She plans to major in Sports Management.