Allison Feldman and several other UA students became friends during a 2004 study-abroad trip in Spain.
Even after graduating from the University of Arizona, the students stayed in contact over the years as they began their careers and lives after college.
The circle of friends suffered a tragic loss when Feldman, then 31, was found slain in her home in Scottsdale on Feb. 18, 2015, in a case that remains unsolved . Since then, two of the UA graduates have looked for a way to honor their friend and bring awareness to her case.
βShe was warm, kind, outgoing, friendly, always had a smile on her face,β said Rob Stirling, a friend and member of the study-abroad group, who graduated from the UA with a law degree.
Feldman was thriving in her career in medical sales, was a new homeowner and had surrounded herself with a network of friends and family, according to the memorial scholarship page set up to raise money.
Stirling and Monica Brown, another friend from the study group who became friends with Feldman during their time in Spain, are working to gather support for the scholarship in their friendβs name.
The goal for the Allison Feldman Memorial Scholarship is set at $25,000 to provide a permanent endowment with the UA Foundation. The money would be used to allow students to participate in study-abroad programs. The UA Office of Global Initiatives offers students to travel to almost 60 countries, which can last one week to a year.
It was spring 2004 when Feldman, majoring in communication and minoring in Spanish, studied in AlcalΓ‘ de Henares, Spain.
Being thousands of miles away for six months, the three UA students bonded in Spain, a place that brought new learning experiences.
The idea to fund the scholarship was discussed by Feldmanβs friends from the study-abroad trip who kept in contact, but no one knew exactly how to get it started.
It came to fruition around six months ago, when Stirling received a call from Mark Strickling, a discovery officer at the UA Foundation, checking in with him about continuing to be a donor to the university. When Stirling brought up the scholarship idea, Strickling helped make sure the proper resources were set up.
Brown, who graduated from the UA with a degree in Spanish literature, jumped on board to coordinate with Feldmanβs parents, Harley and Elayne Feldman, to make sure they approved of the effort to honor their daughter.
Stirling said two things were important to the creation of the scholarship.
First, to never forget Feldman by giving the life-changing opportunity she had to others.
Brown said the trip made an impact on her and Feldman. βApart from getting married and having children, itβs one of the single-most-defining experiences of my life,β she said.
Stirling believes it will also remind people the case remains unsolved and the killer is still out there.
He said the overall experience will benefit students.
βItβs great for them to push their boundaries and take a chance in life and try to learn something new,β Stirling said. βIt will show them not only how big the world is but also make you so much more appreciative of the things you have back here and the opportunities we have in life.β
More than $15,000 has been donated so far to the scholarship. Donations will be accepted until April 6.
Contact Star reporter Shaq Davis at 573-4218 or sdavis@tucson.com On Twitter: @ShaqDavis1
