The idea for the LCDR Erik S. Kristensen ‘90, USN, Memorial Scholarship Fund started with Erik himself. When Erik interviewed at The Olmsted Foundation for a prestigious Scholarship that he earned, the interviewer asked a very simple question: if you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

Erik’s first answer showed his love and dedication to his parents, Sam and Ed Kristensen. Erik responded that he would pay off his parents’ mortgage. Secondly, Erik said that he would establish a scholarship fund to provide tuition assistance to students at his high school alma mater whose families served in the military. As the son of a career Naval officer, Erik knew firsthand how his parents worked hard and sacrificed to send him to a school providing a premier education.

When Erik was killed in action in Afghanistan while attempting to rescue four fellow Navy SEALs, his friends and family took on his goal and, in his name, made it happen. Thanks to the generosity of Erik’s family, friends, Gonzaga classmates, and Naval Academy classmates and fellow alumni, Erik’s fund was established and fully endowed within one year of its creation. With the success of The Klassic in its inaugural year, 2008, Erik’s fund grew, enabling the annual, need-based support of two Gonzaga students from military families. The 2009 and 2010 golf tournaments were so successful that the fund now supports three students.