Two local seventh graders gave a big gift to NIU on Thursday in memory of the victims of the Feb. 14 shootings.

Jaylene Thompson and Nick Bourdages, both 12, gave up their birthday gifts this year in favor of making a large donation to NIU. They held a combined birthday party March 13 and had friends donate money instead of gifts.

The pair raised $580 dollars from 35 of their friends to donate to the Feb. 14 Student Scholarship Fund, set up by the university to memorialize the fallen students.

“We wanted to give to charity,” Thompson said. “And when the shooting occurred, NIU seemed like the perfect one.”

Both Thompson and Bourdages are students at St. Mary School in DeKalb. Bourdages’ older brother, Austin, is a freshman at NIU.

President John Peters accepted the donation Thursday, thanking Thompson and Bourdages for their gift and rewarding them with gift bags of NIU apparel.

“My faith is renewed in our young people,” Peters said. “I’m strengthened in my commitment to make sure they get a good education.”

Peters said there have been more than 900 donors to the scholarship fund, totaling more than $200,000.

“This will continue, from what we know from Virginia Tech,” Peters said, referring to the large number of donations received after last year’s shooting at VT. “I can’t think of a better way to memorialize our fallen students.”

Peters was eager to meet the two students, saying there must be an outlet when the people in the community are moved to make such an effort.

“I never miss an opportunity to meet with young people,” Peters said. “I see so much potential in them. They are the future of the country.”

Peters said the first scholarships may be awarded this fall, and scholarships will definitely be awarded by this time next year.