Seattle Pacific University Names New Scholarship After Student Jon Meis, Hero in School Shooting
The president of Seattle Pacific University announced at this past weekend's graduation ceremony that an engineering scholarship would be named after Jon Meis, the 22-year-old student whose heroic actions helped end the fatal June 5 shooting at the Christian college campus.
Seattle Pacific University President Daniel Martin announced at Saturday's graduation ceremony that the new scholarship would be named after Meis due to the 22-year-old graduate's "quick thinking" and selfless behavior during the June 5 attack.
"In recognition and honor of Jon's quick thinking, selfless act and brave response, we are establishing the John Meis scholarship," Martin announced to the 2014 graduating class on Saturday. Meis, who was also graduating at Saturday's event, received two standing ovations from fellow classmates and faculty. The scholarship will go toward future engineering students at the university.
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Meis was working as a volunteer building monitor when suspected gunman Aaron Ybarra, 26, entered SPU's Otto Miller Hall carrying a shotgun on the afternoon of June 5. When Ybarra reportedly stopped to reload his shotgun, Meis pepper sprayed the suspect and tackled him to the ground, while other witnesses rushed to restrain Ybarra until police arrived moments later.
Police, classmates, and faculty have since hailed Meis for being a hero. Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said at a press conference after the shooting that if it wasn't "for the great response for the people at Seattle Pacific this incident would have been much more tragic."
Although he stayed out of the media spotlight following the tragedy, Meis later released a statement encouraging others to find compassion for the attacker, instead of feeling hatred for his ruthless crime.
"When I came face to face with the attacker, God gave me the eyes to see that he was not a faceless monster, but a very sad and troubled young man. While I cannot at this time find it within me to forgive his crime, I truly desire that he will find the grace of God and the forgiveness of our community," Meis said.
The shooting that day left one dead and two injured. Paul Lee, 19, from Portland died of his gunshot wound.
President Martin also offered a prayer for Lee and the injured at Saturday's graduation ceremony, saying, "We grieve the loss of our student, your classmate, Paul Lee. We continue to pray for those who are hurting physically and emotionally."
Students wore ribbons on their graduation gowns in remembrance of the tragic shooting.
