After a mass shooting in the USA, a scholarship fund honors student's legacy.

Picture of Savitha Shanmugasundaram / File: KXAN Austin

Savitha Shanmugasundaram, a senior at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), was just months away from earning dual degrees in Management Information Systems and Economics when she lost her life in a mass shooting on West Sixth Street. According to the Daily Mail The attack claimed four lives and left 15 others injured.

A month after her passing, the Texas Indian Students Association (ISA), an organization Shanmugasundaram led twice as president, announced the establishment of the Savitha Shanmugasundaram Endowed Scholarship Fund in her memory.

In a post sharing the news, ISA said the scholarship “was created in her memory to support future dreams,” adding that it would “ensure her legacy continues to live on.” According to UT’s donation page, the scholarship aims to raise $500,000 to assist underprivileged students each year, paying tribute to Shanmugasundaram’s “legacy of compassion and resilience.” 

ISA described her as the “heart and soul” of their community, recalling that she “was the glue that kept us together” and that her leadership “completely redefined the position” of president. Members remembered her as both spontaneous and deeply reliable friend.

“Our time with Savi was unexpectedly cut short,” the statement read, “but the memories will remain with us for a lifetime. We are so grateful that Savi touched all of our hearts, and we will carry on her legacy throughout each of our actions.” .

Through the creation of this scholarship, the UT Austin community hopes to honor Shanmugasundaram’s spirit of leadership, kindness and unity qualities that continue to inspire those she left behind.