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Jaden Stout was just 13 years old when his life suddenly ended. The Edgewood Middle School student had just completed the seventh-grade and had planned to pursue a career in computers.

On July 9, 2013, Jaden had been playing when he went inside saying he didn’t feel well. He died that day, unexpectedly, of natural causes.

In remembrance of Jaden, his family decided to establish the Jaden Stout Memorial Scholarship through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. Now, his former classmates are stepping up to help raise the initial $5,000 that is needed to establish the endowment which will then be used to provide scholarships for future students seeking further education.

For the first time in many years, Edgewood Middle School will host a semi-formal dance this Friday. Students Brenna Baney, Morgan Konie, Makayla Reed, Daisy Travis, Natasha Heierman and Breanna Mills came up with the plan for the dance and set out to get their dream realized.

Brenna, Morgan and Makayla, who all share first period class together, wrote up a formal proposal for the dance, set out to collect 108 signatures from their classmates in support of the idea, and presented it to EMS Principal Joella Smythe and Dream Council leaders Whitney Beer and Veronica Helser. The idea gained unanimous approval and, on Nov. 13, planning for the dance began.

Because it is the first time the school has ever done a project like this, it has been a learning experience. The girls have worked closely with Beer and Helser organizing the event and planning for the theme – A Night for Dreams – and decorations – all navy blue and silver to compliment the winter season.

Helser’s husband, Ryan, has agreed to deejay the event free of charge and one of the EMS teachers, Kami Touney, has volunteered to provide photos of the students who attend the dance. The photos will be offered for a charge, but all of the money will go to the Jaden Stout Memorial Scholarship Fund. Snacks and punch for the dance have also been provided free of charge.

To date, the students have raised about $1,000 in ticket sales. They have one more day of ticket sales planned for Thursday during the lunch hours, and tickets will also be sold at the door. About a dozen teachers and school staff members plan to chaperone the dance, along with several parents.

Anyone wishing to donate to help the students reach the $5,000 goal needed to establish the endowment, may give monetary gifts to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation in the name of Jaden Stout Memorial Scholarship, 102 E. Market St., Warsaw, IN 46580. Donations may also be made online at kcfoundation.org.