WoodsEdge Learning Center (WELC) student Quay Taylor has been honored as the first recipient of the Student Adventure Fund Scholarship, created in memory of the late David Haan and Stephanie Hirdning.

Taylor, a student at WELC for the past 20 years, was awarded two year-long passes to SkyZone so that he and a friend may jump for up to 90 minutes per day.

WELC has been described as a place where staff and students come together to help students develop their skills to their highest potential and become a family in the process. As part of this meaningful work, close relationships are often formed between staff, students and families.

On December 3, 2017, David Haan, a behavior paraprofessional of nine years, and Stephanie Hirdning, a long-term substitute teacher, were tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. Their sudden loss had a profound effect on the entire WELC family.

The mothers of David and Stephanie, Shari Boone and Shelly Hirdning, thought of the idea of creating a scholarship and with the help of friends and family, established the David Haan and Stephanie Hirdning Student Adventure Fund Scholarship in memory of their adventurous spirits.

“We chose a scholarship fund because we wanted something that would go on forever to honor the lives of David and Stephanie,” explained Shari Boone.

A daring thrill-seeker, David loved new adventures and enjoyed cliff jumping and skydiving among other thrilling experiences. Stephanie had been known to encourages others to “carpe diem,” a Latin phase which translates to “seize the day.”

“Quay is very deserving of this reward, as he has worked hard to improve his skills for many years here and is a wonderful young man,” said Angela Telfer, director of WoodsEdge Learning Center. “Quay had the opportunity to work closely with David Haan, who was his champion, so it is especially fitting that Quay be the first recipient of this very special scholarship honoring the great work of David Haan and Stephanie Hirdning.”