Journalism scholarship established in memory of Steven Sotloff

The family of slain journalist Steven Sotloff has pledged $125,000 to the University of Miami School of Communications in his name.

The funds are earmarked as a scholarship for a Florida journalism student who can demonstrate academic success and financial need to study journalism at the university in Coral Gables, The Miami Herald reported.

The Islamic State beheaded the 31-year-old freelance journalist a year ago, in September 2014 and broadcast it in a video.

The money was raised through the 2Lives Steven Joel Sotloff Memorial Foundation established earlier this year to support deserving student journalists.

“Steven practiced journalism so he could tell the stories of everyday people suffering through cruel conflicts of the Middle East,” Gregory Shepherd, dean of University of Miami School of Communication told the Herald. “I have strong faith that the students benefiting from this award will carry that heroism forward.”

Sotloff attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando. But his parents selected the University of Miami for the scholarship because it is near the community where the freelance journalist, a Miami Hurricanes sports fan, was born and raised.

“We are going to do other things to help as many people as possible in Steven’s name,” Sotloff’s father, Arthur, said.

“This scholarship throws good against evil, making a gift from tragedy,” Shepherd said.