There wasn’t an empty seat at the Steven R. Agee II scholarship fund kickoff Monday.

The event was hosted by Steven’s mother, Kimberly Agee, in the Holmes Student Center Capitol Room.

“I think it was a wonderful night,” Kimberly said. “So many students came out. I didn’t expect this. His fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, did all the groundwork. All I had to do was show up.”

Steven was fatally shot in the early hours of Nov. 23 at 809 Edgebrook Drive. He was a senior sociology major and involved in several organizations on campus, including Kappa Alpha Psi.

“The major decision [to create the scholarship] was when I saw my son lying on a slab for the very first time,” Kimberly said. “I promised myself that his death would not be in vain, and this has been part of what I’ve worked on since Nov. 23.”

At the kickoff, Kimberly talked about her son and why she decided to create the scholarship. She then allowed friends of Steven to come up to the front of the room and share stories and memories they had of Steven.

“He was so for diversity,” said Odarian Jordan, senior communication major and Kappa Alpha Psi member. “And that’s one thing that rubbed off on me, is how he just wanted to bring everyone together at the end of the day.”

The scholarship will be run by Steven’s parents and fraternity. Kimberly said applicants must showcase qualities her son had, like an interest in leadership and academics.

“One thing that makes Steven so well-known to the NIU community is how well he was involved in different organizations,” Jordan said.

Kimberly said anyone can donate to the scholarship by going to the website. She said there has already been donations from businesses, groups and individuals. Jordan said students can also ask members of Kappa Alpha Psi to get information on either donating to or applying for the scholarship.

“I think a scholarship would be the perfect thing because he, himself, was very pro-academics and having good grades,” Jordan said. “It’s only right that we give back to our NIU family, our NIU community, with a scholarship in honor of a person who really was prestigious.”

Kimberly said the scholarship will be offered every year. The scholarship has no set amount, Kimberly said, but there will always be some money given.

“If we can’t do anything but help someone purchase books-give them a scholarship for their books, then that’s what we’ll give them,” Kimberly said.