A scholarship fund has been established at UC Santa Cruz in honor of Gabriel Zimmerman, the UCSC alumnus who was killed in the shooting rampage in Tucson, Ariz. that wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
Touched by Zimmerman's death suffered in the course of public service, UCSC alumnus Jonathan Klein first proposed the scholarship fund and offered an initial gift. “We need to honor those who make the sacrifices inherent in a career in public service,” said Klein, a 1989 politics graduate. “The more selfless people like Gabe in government, the better.”
Sheldon Kamieniecki, dean of Social Sciences at UCSC, said the fund would be used to support undergraduate students in the social sciences division who are passionate about social issues and committed to public service. "Our goal is to raise at least $50,000 to allow the fund to be endowed," Kamieniecki said in announcing that the fund was officially opened.
Zimmerman graduated in 2002 with a degree in sociology. He began working for Giffords during her first run for Congress in 2006. At the time of his death at age 30 he was director of community outreach. Zimmerman organized the "Congress on the Corner" event January 8 where a gunman opened fire, killing him and five others, and wounding 14.
Donations may be made online to the Gabriel Zimmerman Scholarship Fund.More information may be obtained from and contributions sent to: Social Sciences, UC Santa Cruz, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or (831) 502-7275.
