In the eyes of the nation, Victoria Leigh Soto will be remembered as a selfless young teacher who acted as a hero on Friday, Dec. 14, dying protecting her first students as a gunman went through Sandy Hook Elementary School, killing 20 elementary school teacher and six adults.
At Eastern Connecticut State University, she will be remembered as a part of the family and as an alumna whose dream job was to teach children. The school is making sure that the dean’s list student who studied elementary education and history is honored through a scholarship in her name.
“Our faculty remembers Vicki as a joy to be with, an exemplary student who was committed to nurturing young lives,” Eastern President Elsa Núñez said in a news release. “She died protecting those children. She is being hailed throughout the world as a hero. We will never forget her.”
In honor of Soto and her heroism, the university has created the Victoria Leigh Soto Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund to support Eastern students studying to be teachers who have unmet financial need.
Donations may be directed to:
Victoria Leigh Soto Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund
ECSU Foundation, Inc.
Eastern Connecticut State University
83 Windham Street
Willimantic, CT 06226
ATTN: Kenneth J. DeLisa
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
To contribute online, donors can visit an ECSU Web site. After filling out the first screen, they will be directed to a second screen to select a designation for their gift. On the dropdown menu, they should choose “Victoria Leigh Soto Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund.”
