After outpouring of support, David Grotberg’s family creates scholarship in his name

When Baylor sophomore David Grotberg passed away suddenly last fall, the outpouring of support his family saw from various communities, both inside and outside Baylor, was humbling. Now, his family is working to give back by creating a scholarship in David’s honor.

Grotberg was a second-year University Scholar, a member of the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, president of the Ballroom Dance Society, and a trumpeter in the Golden Wave Band (BUGWB) when he was struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident last fall while riding his bicycle around the city.

Hundreds of Baylor family members offered their condolences and prayers to David’s family and friends when the news spread on social media. The Waco Bicycle Club honored David with a “ride of silence” from Fountain Mall to Memorial Hall. Just a few weeks later, before the Baylor Homecoming football game, BUGWB held a beautiful ceremony for the Grotbergs and a moment of silence for David. Then they surprised us all with a beautifully executed Star Wars-themed halftime performance in honor of David’s favorite film series.

Word of David’s passing continued to spread outside of the Baylor community. In his hometown of Fergus Falls, Minn., a duathlon and space in the public library have been dedicated in his memory. And after a blog post went viral within the college band world, marching bands across the U.S. rallied their support. The Oklahoma State University Cowboy Band wore green bandanas and performed “That Good Old Baylor Line.” The Pride of West Virginia put on green and gold shirts and threw up their best “sic ’em” claws. Bands at the University of Houston, Texas State University and the University of Alabama all proudly pinned green and gold ribbons to their uniforms.

When the Grotbergs lost David, they were afraid they’d also lost their connection to their Baylor family. But they were happy to be proven wrong by all the support, and quickly began thinking of how they could thank the community that had so readily embraced them.

“We said, ‘How do we keep David’s connection with Baylor? How do we bless somebody through David at Baylor?’” Diane Grotberg, David’s mother, told The Baylor Lariat. Then she remembered the lack of scholarships she’d seen for homeschooled students while helping David apply for colleges.

With the money remaining from David’s funeral contributions, they began a scholarship fund just for homeschooled students through the Baylor Honors College. “It was too much money for just a funeral, and we felt like it wasn’t ours to spend,” Diane said. “So we said, ‘We’re going to start a scholarship at Baylor, and we’re going to do our part.’” Their goal is to raise $100,000 to support students like David; you can donate by texting DAVIDG to 41444 or by clicking here.

“As we watch these things happen, it really helps in our grief, because one of my first thoughts was, ‘He’s going to be forgotten,’ […] ” said Diane. “Even though David’s gone, he mattered when he lived, and he still matters as a child of God.”

Sic ’em, Grotberg family!