The Erik S. Kristensen ’90, USN, Memorial Scholarship Fund fulfills Erik’s dream of providing need-based tuition assistance at the school for military families. This fund was established in Erik’s honor by his family, classmates, and friends. A true patriot, Erik gave the ultimate sacrifice in defending his nation. As a Gonzaga student, he excelled in the classroom, on the playing field, and in the band while always maintaining a wonderful sense of humor. He truly lived the Gonzaga motto: a Man for Others. The fund benefits a worthy student who comes from a military family.

Gonzaga alumnus Ryan Degnan was the first student to receive aid from Erik’s fund. A 2007 graduate, Ryan now attends the University of Notre Dame. His father serves as a colonel in the United States Army, and Ryan himself is in the Army ROTC program at South Bend. In addition to earning consistent academic honors, Ryan was a coxswain on the crew team. In a truly fitting coincidence, he served as coxswain on the Kristensen, Gonzaga’s varsity eight shell named in honor of Erik. “I take great consolation in the thought that such a great man who meant so much to so many people and gave everything to our country is in heaven guarding and guiding me,” says Ryan. “I just hope someday that I will be half as good of a soldier as he was a sailor.”

With the success of the 2008 Klassic, Erik’s fund now benefits TWO worthy and needy current students with tuition assistance. Your participation in The Klassic helps students like Ryan, whose families make sacrifices both to serve our nation and to send their sons to Gonzaga.