From honoring the life of Emily Scott to striving to create a community of acceptance, the Emily Scott Memorial Walk at Centennial High School brings us together to honor our differences.
Emily Scott was a beam of light whose happiness was reflected onto others. Her 29 years on Earth will not be forgotten as she suddenly passed away on May 23, 2022. If you were having a bad day, Emily would cheer you up and smile, “just because you’re there,” Emily’s mother, Judith Scott, said. Her smile, dancing, and singing were contagious to everyone around her. She was a passionate and kind-hearted person who truly made an impact on everyone.
Scott’s family started the Emily Scott Memorial Walk four years ago when Colin Moe and Elizabeth Engle gave the Scott family the idea to keep Emily’s legacy alive.
Described by Judith Scott, the walk is centered on “talking about Emily and [to keep] her spirit going.” The money fundraised allows “seniors who are graduating to have some money to go forward into college.”
The purpose of this scholarship is to build a culture of inclusivity and to recognize these students for their compassionate qualities. The walk raises a $2,500 scholarship for five students through the Howard County Public School System. Through the selection process, a student has to write a variety of essays on how they value acceptance and kindheartedness that Emily Scott exuded during her life at Centennial High School.
These characteristics are also exemplified through every meeting of Best Buddies (now known as We Belong) that Emily Scott excitedly attended. The current president of We Belong, senior Hannah Elpus, remarks how all the buddies can be “unapologetically who they are.”
Each meeting is something to look forward to. From Mission Impossible across the cafeteria to making Thanksgiving cards, Elpus explains how the club aims to “to create an environment where everyone feels loved and has a friend.” The same morals that Emily’s joy and compassion embodied through the light she shone on the community.
The life of Emily Scott will always be cherished through this annual remembrance. From the countless games played at We Belong to her beaming smile, Emily Scott’s legacy has had a remarkable impact on the community, and will continue to for years to come.
Her inspiring message will continue to live on at Centennial as Judith Scott relays an anecdote her daughter’s best friend once told her: “people die two times. Once when they actually die, and once when you stop talking about them.” The community will continue to share Emily Scott’s message of love and perseverance yearly with the walk and daily with smiles and kindness towards everyone in the halls at Centennial.
