University of Maryland Donation letter for murdered Senior's Scholarship

I love my son, Justin, more than life itself; that his life was cut short when Justin had so many dreams coming to fruition from his years of diligence and dedication is heart wrenching. The "Justin DeSha-Overcash Summer Research Award" was put together by Justin's mentor, advisers and grad friends at the University of Maryland College Park, Md; they completed it by March 2011. Justin's legacy is to academics, his first and last real love. On January 14, 2011 a wonderful staff member from UMd called to speak with me pursuant to the arrangements for Justin's memorial; I cannot recall her name but I will always remember what she said. "Ms. DeSha did you know Justin has 174 credits?" "Yes ma'am we talk about everything." Staff member, "Did you know Justin took every difficult course offered?" "Yes ma'am Justin loves a challenge." Staff member, "Did you know Justin knows the Assistant Dean of Physics personally?" "Yes ma'am." Staff member, "NO! I mean personally [vocal emphasis on personally]." I replied, "Yes ma'am." and smiled through my tears. Justin's junior year he taught a class. Curious I asked, "Justin, did teaching a class lead you to think you might like to become a professor?" He looked at me in his 'matter-of-fact' manner and said, "No momma people don't want to learn!" That's my Justin.... LETTER AND INFORMATION TO SEND DONATIONS SUPPORT JUSTIN'S SCHOLARSHIP~PLEASE Help if you can any amount is GRATEFULLY appreciated..this scholarship is my son's legacy....God bless...I am Justin's momma

PLEASE DONATE IF YOU CAN; Thank you, I remain Justin's momma 



http://advancement.umd.edu/giving/ Search [Overcash] and follow links...God bless!

How my son died with honor.

I am sorry if I give off impressions of anger. I am attempting to honestly share; I am incapable of anger or hate. I am known as being outspoken and abrupt never would I be angry at anyone for their own views and opinions. My only wish is that everyone have conviction for their beliefs and have faith in their beliefs. What happened to my beautiful son, Justin. Justin was doing his laundry in his home off UMd's campus [in broad daylight] on January 11, 2011 [he would become the eleventh person murdered in the first eleven days of January 2011 in PG County, MD sadly the murders would continue]. A masked man with a gun came into his home and began to harass and threaten Justin [a roommate was asleep and heard Justin yelling; he would later tell the police, "I have never even heard Justin raise his voice. When I heard him yelling I knew something bad was wrong." This hidden witness crawled under his bed dialing 911. It was at this time a college friend walked into the middle of this horrible life's nightmare. The gunman turned the gun toward Justin's friend [for the FIRST time in my child's 22 years he struck a person~he hit the gunman] in an attempt to protect his buddy. The friend [now eyewitness to Justin's murder] said, "After Justin hit him the gunman turned back to face Justin. He placed the gun barrel Justin's abdomen and shot twice. I saw the greatest act of love and the greatest act of evil in the same second. I ran to Justin as the shooter ran away; I held him, I told him I love him, and I thanked him for saving my life." Justin saved two lives the day he chose to forfeit his; as a strong statistician [accountable for others and compassionate] Justin knew his odds all too well. Sadly he knew the outcome before he ever swung his fist; but this did not stop Justin. When the police were helping me pack my son's room one of them picked up a Bible off of his bookcase and asked, "Is this Justin's Bible?" Irritated [with this question] I replied, "Yes I gave it to Justin for Christmas in 2004." The police woman asked, "How do you know that?" I said, "Because I am Justin's momma." She opened it and there in my handwriting [where I had dedicated Justin's new Bible to him] 'From: Dad and Momma, Honey We love you so very much [and beneath I had written], "Always remember honey; things happen the way God plans them." I never blamed God for Justin's death and never got angry at God, I have lost count of the number of prayers begging God to let me take an others place so I may be with Justin, my constant. Life is hard. I am far from perfect I sincerely hope God has a sense of humor. I could not have never made it these two long years without GOD, friends and family. Before Justin's death I always ended my prayers with "...and God please, please never take Justin from me I don't know what I would do..." Now I have to face 'what am I going to do?' I'll never have grandchildren or great grandchildren and Justin would have been such a good dad. I do not know why God blessed me with Justin; I learned far more from him than he ever learned from me. I turned 57 January 23 and being a [peace keeper/ verbal diffuser] I was never one to share my own view points or opinions. I was too afraid of what others might think of me; after what Justin endured in his final moments I'm not afraid anymore of anyone or anything. When one had nothing to loose their vision is quite clear. I remain Justin's sad momma