Ariel Tate-Gordon receives first memorial scholarship award

In a special ceremony on Friday, May 6, the first Alexandra Burgett Scholarship was awarded to Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary health services student Ariel Tate-Gordon. Burgett, whose memory the scholarship honors, was close to graduating from that program when she lost her life in a traffic accident in May 2012. She was awarded a degree posthumously in December 2012 and was eulogized by Dr. Dori Ravotas, coordinator of the program, at that time.

Said Ravotas, “Alex is remembered by her friends here at Western as being fiercely loyal, always having the funny joke and being very non-judgmental…When Alex began her work at Residential Opportunities, Incorporated, she became deeply committed to her work in the disabilities community, a defender and an advocate for those with disabilities…Upon her passing, ROI dedicated both a memorial garden and an award in her honor. They have recognized her as compassionate, respectful, dedicated, light hearted, intelligent and gentle.”

The Burgett family initiated the scholarship in December 2013, to honor and continue their loved one’s legacy and to assist an interdisciplinary health services undergraduate student in need of support to continue in the program..

The first student selected to receive the scholarship, Ariel Tate-Gordon, is also a woman of commitment who is dedicated to serving others. As a member of the Student Leadership Council in the College of Health and Human Services and the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory committee in the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs, Tate-Gordon has taken a leadership role in advocating for the needs of other students. After obtaining her Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary health services, she plans to go on for a master’s degree in either social work or business administration and then focus on a career in mortuary science