Memorial scholarship to be available next fall

Monday, December 3, 2007

Nicole Bingham was a Wichita senior at the University of Kansas when she died on October 7, 2005, in a fire at the Boardwalk Apartment complex. Six days later, on what would have been her 22nd birthday, Nicole’s mother, Nancy Bingham, established the Nicole Bingham Memorial Scholarship Fund in her memory.

The scholarship will be offered to students for the first time next fall.

KANSAN FILE PHOTO

KANSAN

It is for history majors, and students who apply must have a GPA no higher than a 3.5, which Nancy said reflected Nicole’s coursework. The scholarship will be given on a need basis.

The scholarship will be offered for the first time next fall. Last month, the fund for the scholarship reached $30,000, which is the minimum requirement for an endowment fund. Nancy Bingham said that each year the scholarship would be awarded in the amount of interest that has grown from the $30,000. She said she expects this to be about $1,300 per year.

Nancy Bingham said that funds for the scholarship came from money that she had saved for the rest of Nicole’s education, friends and relatives of Nicole, and the Boeing Company, for which Nancy worked.

Lisa Scheller, senior editor of the KU Endowment Association, said that history majors would receive an e-mail during the spring semester with information about how they can apply for the scholarship.

Nancy Bingham said that she hoped the scholarship went to someone with interests similar to Nicole’s.

Nicole planned to work in museum management after graduation. Nancy said that Nicole was a very happy person and her friends were the most important part of her life.

Nicole had a congenital heart defect, and Nancy said she was very careful about her health because of it. Nancy said that because of her heart problems, there was a nine-percent chance that her heart could stop at any moment. Nicole told her that if anything happened, it was important to her that she have a large memorial for her friends. Nancy said that this scholarship partly fulfills that wish.

“She had been through a lot of things in her life. Really, a lot of trauma,” Nancy Bingham said. “She learned how to overcome them.”

Nancy Bingham said that she was grateful to the KU Endowment Association for its help with the scholarship fund.

“They dropped everything that they were doing so that they could put it together that day and let me sign on her birthday,” Nancy Bingham said.

Nicole was Nancy Bingham’s only child.

“She was the love of my life,” Nancy Bingham said.

Nicole was one of three people who died in the 2005 fire at the Boardwalk Apartment complex. Complex resident Jason Rose is reportedly serving a 10-year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter, aggravated arson and aggravated battery.

— Edited by Kaitlyn Syring

Dead student still remembered

Nicole Bingham died in the Boardwalk Apartments fire on Oct. 7, 2005. ...

/news/2006/oct/06/bingham/

Rose sentenced to 122 months in Boardwalk ...

Jason Rose was sentenced Monday to 122 months after being convicted last ...

/news/2007/jun/18/new_rose_sentenced_122_months_boardwalk_case/

Friends tell fire victim's story

/news/2005/oct/12/bingham_obit/

Boardwalk survivors remember one year later

Since last October's Boardwalk fire, survivors have had 12 months to heal, ...

/news/2006/oct/04/survivors/

Three bodies found in rubble

/news/2005/oct/11/apartment_fire_information/

Widower librarian shares wife's KU legacy

/news/2005/oct/06/widower/

News you need to know

A brief look at news around town

/news/2007/jun/06/news_you_need_know/

Insurance dispute marks Boardwalk fire anniversary

The Boardwalk fire occured nearly a year ago, but little remains of ...

/news/2006/oct/03/now/

Center dedicated to alumnus' mother

The Wilna Crawford Community Center will provide a place for scholarship halls ...

/news/2007/apr/23/crawford/

Editorial: Former student's legacy honored

The revently deceased Drew Ryan Anderson will be honored with a memorial ...

/news/2011/nov/13/drew-anderson/

Memorial fund set up for former student

Despite being confined to a motor scooter, Anderson lived independently at KU ...

/news/2011/nov/09/drew-anderson/

Donors commit funds for librarians

/news/2005/sep/14/ne_sanders_brief/

Study Abroad offers more scholarship opportunities

Students who want to study abroad might have an easier time getting ...

/news/2010/feb/02/studyabroadscholarships/

Police arrest suspect in apartment fire investigation

/news/2005/oct/12/ne_fire_suspect/

New scholarship funded by students

Donor support lessens as economy struggles. Students can participate in mud volleyball ...

/news/2009/apr/06/new_scholarship/

Rose trial opens for second time

A year and a half after the blaze that took three lives, ...

/news/2007/may/02/trial/

Court date set for apartment fire

/news/2005/oct/17/ne_fire_folo/

Memorial service for journalism lecturer this Monday

Family and university mourn Christine Merrill Bradford who died of an apparent ...

/news/2008/apr/25/update_memorial_service_journalism_lecturer_monday/

Rose's mental capacity focal point of trial

Jason Allen Rose's history of group housing were discussed at length Tuesday ...

/news/2007/may/09/rose/

Scholarship named in honor of honors lecturer

The Mary A. Klayder Scholarship was donated by professor of English Bernard ...

/news/2007/nov/13/scholarship_named_honor_honors_lecturer/

Rose admits he set paper on fire

Jason Allen Rose said that he lit a piece of paper containing ...

/news/2007/may/04/boardwalk/

Neighbors, coworkers shocked by arrest of shy ...

/news/2005/oct/17/ne_rose/

Leaving a lasting legacy

As Hemenway prepares to retire, he and others look back at how ...

/news/2009/may/04/leaving_legacy/

News Brief: February 5, 2007

Accused Boardwalk Apartment arsonist Jason Allen Rose is set for trial. The ...

/news/2007/feb/05/rosebrief/

Co-workers remember fire victim fondly

After being killed one year ago in the Boardwalk fire, Jose Gonzalez ...

/news/2006/oct/05/gonzalez/

Arson suspect makes first appearence

/news/2005/oct/12/breaking_newsarson_suspect_makes_first_appearence/

Dole Institute study groups coordinate with classes

The initiative encourages student participation with the option for professors to include ...

/news/2008/feb/19/dole_institute/

Watkins to be remembered for her contributions ...

The University will celebrate Elizabeth Watkins’ 150th birthday this weekend.

/news/2011/apr/11/watkins-be-remembered-her-contributions-university/

Garlington, Reed shine as athletes, scholars

Karnia Garlington and Tyrel Reed earned the Senior Scholar Athletes of the ...

/news/2011/may/02/standout-senior-scholars/

Fundraiser will honor KU dance teacher and ...

The proceeds from the event will go toward scholarships to assist dance ...

/news/2010/sep/14/fundraiser-will-honor-ku-dance-teachers-life-and-g/

Marching Jayhawks benefit from donation

The band has received a $100,000 endowment from Dana and Sue Anderson ...

/news/2008/oct/03/bandwidth/

New scholarship presentation today

The scholarship will be offered to low-income, first generation students.

/news/2009/feb/27/scholarships/

Puckett remembered in department ceremony

Longtime accompanist died of a heart attack Nov. 3.

/news/2009/nov/17/puckett-remembered-ceremony/

Run honors Teri Mathis Zenner, raises money ...

/news/2005/apr/28/news_campus_zenner/

Students find temporary homes after apartment fire

/news/2005/oct/11/ne_displaced_students/

Apartment fire causes students to seek security

/news/2005/oct/21/renters_insurance/

Donations increase despite economy

The Endowment Association supports students with scholarships, fellowships and awards.

/news/2010/oct/21/endowment-continues-donations/

Rose admits lying during interrogation

Jason Allen Rose confessed much of his taped confessions were fabricated. Prosecution ...

/news/2007/may/08/rose/

‘Green space’ on campus is endangered

Marvin Grove, other natural icons at the University threatened because of weather, ...

/news/2009/nov/19/green-space-campus/

National Merit Scholar recruitment down

The University of Kansas’ merit scholar recruitment has dwindled since its peak ...