Investing in Community Education

In Memory of Holly Christina Stahl (BCHS, Class of 2009) .......

Posted by Elmbrook Education Foundation on April 19, 2011

Holly Christina Stahl passed away on December 21st, 2010.  Her family has recently established a memorial scholarship fund in her name to be administered by the Elmbook Education Foundation. Holly would have celebrated her 20^th birthday on April 13, 2011. Holly was truly a breath of fresh air and will be forever remembered. 

Holly was a 2009 honor roll graduate of Brookfield Central High School. She had also attended Wisconsin Hills Middle School and Swanson Elementary School. Her family indicated that Holly was touched by so many wonderful teachers in Elmbrook throughout the years and that Holly was especially inspired by Joyce Sponcia (Grade 3 teacher, retired) and Molly Mathia (Holly’s BCHS English teacher).

She is remembered by the Elmbrook community as a beautiful, talented, and driven young woman with a big heart and an infectious smile. She had a clear effervescence and had the gift of making anyone she talked to laugh and feel welcome. She deeply cared for and thoroughly enjoyed the company of her friends and family.  

She was involved in soccer, Key Club, Student Council, and many other extracurricular activities throughout her school career. Holly threw herself into everything she was part of. She brought forward a host of creative ideas and helped ignite a lot of student spirit at games, dances, Homecoming week, and other events.  

She was a responsible student who worked hard to earn her grades. Never a procrastinator, she challenged herself academically to overcome adversity so that she could take the classes she wanted in order to achieve her goals. Holly never waited for special moments or opportunities to come to her … she created them!  

She was an interior design major at the University of Minnesota and was named to the Dean’s list in the spring of 2010. A statement from the University of Minnesota College of Design Dean Thomas Fisher says Holly was an excellent student and promising designer, who had dreamed of becoming a designer since she was 12. The statement says she shadowed several professionals in the field and was planning to pursue a retail merchandising minor.

Holly tragically passed away in a car accident on Dec 21, 2010 coming from college for Christmas. Her family has since established the Holly Christina Stahl Foundation to support both local and national charities that reflect Holly’s love of life. A portion of these funds will be used to develop the Holly Christina Stahl Memorial Scholarship Fund administered by the Elmbrook Education Foundation in an effort to sustain a connection between Holly and the Elmbrook community for years to come. The Holly Christina Stahl Scholarship will first be awarded in May of 2011 to an applicant who has overcome adversity to achieve their goals and make the most of their life as Holly did. 

Her family and friends are selling HCS Love Life! bracelets to raise money in Holly’s memory.   The inspiration for these bracelets came from a conversation that Holly had with her college roommates a few weeks before she passed away. She had decided never to leave by saying "Good Bye", instead she would leave reminding everyone to "Love Life!” A simple motto to remind everyone how precious our time together really is. Holly may be gone but her spirit lives on in these powerful words.  Her family has chosen to honor her with these bands hoping it will serve as a reminder for all who wear them to "Love Life". 

Donations directed to the Holly Christina Stahl Scholarship Fund can be sent to the Elmbrook Education Foundation at P.O. Box 206, Brookfield, WI 53008. The EEF is a 501c3 organization; consequently, all donations to this fund are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law and will be acknowledged with the family.  

Related links:

• HCS Foundation Website: www.HCSLoveLife.org
• HCS Foundation on facebook