The parents of a Cal Poly student who was hit and killed at the El Campo Road intersection of Highway 101 near Arroyo Grande earlier this fall are giving away $10,000 in scholarship money in his memory.
Jordan Grant, 18, was riding his motorcycle on Oct. 7 when he tried to navigate through the El Campo Road intersection and was hit and killed by another vehicle making what CHP called an “unsafe left turn.”
Grant’s parents have thanked local journalists for telling their son’s tragic story and bringing attention to the public safety issues regarding the intersection where he died.
The Grants named a journalism scholarship after former San Luis Obispo Tribune reporter Lucas Clark and KSBY News reporter Aja Goare to thank them for the coverage of Jordan’s crash.
Friday morning, the Grants spoke to students and staff in the Cal Poly journalism department about the importance of local media and presented two $5,000 checks to a pair of Cal Poly student journalists.
Cal Poly junior journalism student Cassandra Garibay says while she didn’t know Jordan personally, his story has taken an emotional toll on her as an aspiring journalist.
“We feel like it’s our responsibility that his story is continued to be told and heard and following up with the family,” Garibay said. “It definitely has had an impact, especially on this newsroom.”
Aidan McGloin, also a junior studying journalism, said the Grants’ message further inspired him to pursue a career in local news.
“It’s not just money given to me. It’s money given by a grieving family to carry on the legacy of their son,” McGloin said.
The Grants plan to give out the “Lucas Clark and Aja Goare Scholarship” annually on Oct. 7, the anniversary of their son’s crash.
