The memory of former Dublin High School Sophomore Eddie Hernandez won’t soon be for-gotten and this year, Dublin Lion fans can embrace his memory while benefitting a scholarship fund in his honor.
Hernandez who was killed last April in a car wreck made a lasting impression on students, teachers and citizens with his outgoing personality, legendary hugs and active involvement with extracurricular activities including football No. 75, powerlifting and track and field.
A group of Dublin ISD teachers got together to kick off the first fundraiser for the Eddie Hernandez Memorial Scholarship Organization— a T-shirt campaign featuring a variety of green shirts with ‘Dublin Lions’ on the front, and EH75 on the back, in honor of Hernandez and his football jersey number.
T-shirts ordered online now will be available in mid-September, and the organizers will be purchasing a limited quantity to sell at football games. Online sales end Aug. 29 at noon and T-shirts range from $20-$27, depending on style and sleeves.
“A group of teachers was brainstorming at lunch what we could do to preserve his memory,” Organizer and English teacher Riley Jo Dunlap said. All proceeds from the sale will go towards scholarship opportunities for Dublin High School Seniors who are interested in collegiate and trade school endeavors.
“We looked at seniors and thought what better way to honor him?” she said. “Eddie deserves that, his memory de-serves that. Eddie was literally friends with everybody. He gave the best hugs that everyone misses.”
The T-shirt fundraiser is the first of many scheduled to benefit the scholarship fund which is in the process of becoming a certified non-profit.
“We are also hoping to have a salsa contest during the Hispanic Heritage Festival in September,” she said.
The scholarship fund organizers are in the process of setting up an account with First National Bank just for general donations, Dunlap said.
“I’m just trying to fill part of that hole that was left when he passed away,” she said.