A family with deep ties to the Fairport community wants to help celebrate young people who go above and beyond to help others. The family of Eagle Ryan, a 2014 Fairport High School graduate who died in a tragic crash in 2020, plans to award a $1,000 scholarship to a FHS senior in Eagle’s memory at the end of next school year. But this scholarship is unlike most because this one will take the form of a pageant. 

Eagle’s mother, Beth Espada, says her son’s memory will live on in the “Eagle Wings Pageantry Scholarship”, awarded to a high school senior in June of 2022 through a service-based pageant scholarship. “The scholarship will be awarded to a recipient who acts selflessly and dedicates time over the course of the year to charity or non-profit organizations,” said Espada. “A true pageant king or queen is humble [and] giving and finds rewards beyond the crown and sash.” 

Espada says Eagle was a tremendous supporter of his younger siblings. Three of his younger sisters have flourished through participating in service and community-based pageants. Christina (11), Jazmine (10) and Dominique (8) are all students in the Fairport Central School District. 

Espada says her daughters spend countless hours volunteering for their chosen causes. Dominique and Jazmine are both students at Northside Elementary School. Their platforms include Worth More Nation, a pageant that celebrates and uplifts young women who have experienced trauma and the foster care system. Espada says, “All three girls and Eagle were adopted through foster care so working and helping foster children is near and dear to our hearts.” The girls collect new and gently used clothes, along with toys and art supplies for children in need.

The girls also support Donate Life, an organization that raises awareness for organ and tissue donation. Eagle’s family was able to donate his organs after his passing. Eagle’s sister Christina, a student at Johanna Perrin Middle School, is passionate about animal welfare and supports a platform to “Save the Honeybees.” In summer 2020, all three girls were awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for their hours of hard work and dedication, and Espada says they are on track to log an equally impressive number of volunteer hours for 2021, and hope to earn the honors again.

For more information on the “Eagle Wings Pageantry” scholarship, visit the organization’s Facebook Page or contact Beth Espada at espadabeth@gmail.com.

Lead photo caption: From left to right: Christina, Jazmine and Dominique with their Presidential Awards (photo provided by Beth Espada)

Second photo caption: FHS graduate Eagle Ryan (photo provided by Beth Espada)