The Jon Scharfenberger Memorial Pro-Life Scholarship

Jonathan Scharfenberger, known as "Jon Scharf" to his friends, was born April 26, 1989, in Edison, New Jersey. He was raised in Warwick, New York, the son of Dr. Dennis and Anna Scharfenberger and the brother of Kimberly, Amy, and Thomas.

At Ave Maria University, Jon studied philosophy, discerned the priesthood, was a beloved brother in the Filii in Filio Household, and served as president of the university's pro-life club. Under his leadership, the group raised tens of thousands of dollars to send students to the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., and the group's committed membership grew from 30 to more than 150 by his final year. Jon was a gifted organizer who planned the group's fundraising banquets and always seemed to know exactly whom to call when the group needed a favor.

Jon was known for his deep, genuine faith, and he was rarely seen around campus without his breviary. Friends recall someone who made each of them feel like the only person in the room. Jon cultivated his friendships as if each were a gift. The quality time Jon spent with those he cherished has become the treasured memories so many hold onto today.

Pro-life work wasn't just a line item on Jon's college resume. It was a calling. After graduating in May 2011, Jon moved to Virginia to join Students for Life of America. As campus support coordinator, he founded and led the Pregnant on Campus initiative, which helped pregnant and parenting students find the support they needed to stay in school. And he supplied materials to more than 600 pro-life groups nationwide so that they, too, could offer these resources. In a full-circle moment, Jon's alma mater, AMU, answered the call with the creation of Campus Care, which was inspired by the Pregnant on Campus Initiative and is still thriving today.

On October 18, 2011, Jon died at age 22 from injuries sustained as the victim of a car accident while returning from an SFLA event in Georgia. Jon was traveling with Korney Blythe Gordon, a pregnant colleague. The three lives claimed in that tragedy will never be forgotten.

Jon's light is still felt on campus through the Filii in Filio household and today's Ave for Life club.