Nearly one year after the death of Falconer Central School graduate and Rochester Institute of Technology student, Matthew William Eskeli IV, or Bill, his legacy continues.
During Falconer’s high school graduation ceremony last week, Matthew Moore was presented The Billy Eskeli Scholarship to support his studies in engineering exploration at Rochester Institute of Technology.
In addition to his academic achievements in high school, Moore is also a dedicated community volunteer. A member of the Falconer Honor Society and Falconer Key Club, Moore donated his time to a number of service projects such as the community garden, special events and local fundraisers.
“I am truly honored to have received The Billy Eskeli Scholarship which will help me in achieving my dreams of becoming an engineer,” Moore said. “I am sincerely grateful for this gesture, and I am honored to take part in preserving the memory of Billy.”
According to his parents, Eskeli was kind, hardworking, smart, and had an amazing sense of humor. He earned the rank of valedictorian when he graduated in 2017 and began attending RIT in the fall to study mechanical engineering.
Last summer, Eskeli and other members of RIT’s Electronic Vehicle Team team traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado to race the electronic motorcycle they built at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Although they didn’t win, it was the trip of a lifetime.
On July 2, Eskeli was tragically killed, and his passengers injured, when the car he was driving was struck by a drunk driver.
Following his death, his parents, Matt and Stephanie, asked that memorial gifts be made to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation to support a scholarship in his memory.
“Bill would be so proud to know that he is helping other students with their education,” said his mother, Stephanie Eskeli at the time. “His passing has impacted all of us and we are proud that he will be positively impacting the lives of future Falconer students.”
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