Mother of teen shot by police organizes scholarship for Chaparral students

By Rich Coleman

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010 | 11:35 a.m.

Evie Oquendo is ready to start celebrating Christmas again.

After her son, Tanner Chamberlain, was shot and killed by Metro Police Sept. 29, 2009, she had trouble looking forward to the holidays, she said.

“Last year I literally spent the whole day in bed and I refuse to do that this year,” Oquendo said. “It makes me feel like he is still alive with me by celebrating these holidays and I need to do that.”

And to celebrate the holidays and keep Tanner’s memory alive, she and her son’s friends from Chaparral High School plan to decorate a tree in Sunset Park, 2601 East Sunset Road, which was planted in his memory.

“I don’t want it to be a sad time, I want to celebrate Tanner and that’s how I do it,” Oquendo said. “This is something I’d still do if he were alive.”

Oquendo said friends of Tanner are encouraged to attend and decorate the tree. Since his death, his classmates have been supportive of Oquendo and have had different tributes arranged for Tanner, including donated books to the library and dedications in the yearbook.

Because of their support, Oquendo has set up a college scholarship for students at Chaparral – the Tanner Chamberlain: Live Your Dreams scholarship. The scholarship is set up through the Public Education Foundation. Oquendo is encouraging people to donate during the holidays.

After getting the idea for the scholarship in March, she scrambled to set up the award by April 9 and awarded a $1,500 scholarship to a creative writing student from the school. This year, she is hoping to award multiple $1,000 scholarships to her son’s graduating class.

“If it was up to me I’d like to give it to every single one,” she said. “With these economic times, less and less students are having the opportunity to go to college.”

Oquendo said anyone can donate by calling 799-1042 and mentioning the name of the scholarship when donating, or by visiting www.thepef.org and typing in name of the scholarship on the donation page.

“Any donation is appreciated. It’s 100 percent non-profit and goes directly to the student,” she said. “These kids need every dime they can get.”