Since 2019
Providing Scholarships for Higher Education
Mission
To provide financial assistance through scholarships to those with a personal experience with mental illness and is seeking higher education at a university or technical institute.
Vision
To bring awareness to mental illness and suicide and to decrease the stigma surrounding those who experience this or seek help and treatment.
Die by Suicide in the US every year
Die by suicide worldwide every year
%
Of US suicides are males
Suicide attempts in the US each year
What Drives Us
Mental Health Awareness
Gage was a caring and loyal young man. He was highly intellectual and truly enjoyed academia. His life was tragically cut short at only 19 years of age when he died by suicide. In honor of his memory, we have started a scholarship foundation to provide financial assistance to those with a personal experience with mental illness and are planning to, or are attending a university or technical institute. We also want to use this opportunity to bring awareness to mental illness and suicide and help fight the stigma surrounding mental illness and seeking help or treatment.
Scholarship Application
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Suicide Awareness
carrying on Gage's Story
Gage’s personal journey has had a tragic end, but we don’t want this to be the end of his story. He will continue to live on through this foundation by helping to support others do the one thing he enjoyed above all else–school.
If you would like to help us carry Gage’s story on, please consider donating to the scholarship fund or contact us to see how else you can get involved.
Gage's Accomplishments
Gage had so many achievements in his 19 years that I cannot name them all. During his high school years, he took 2nd place in Algebra 2 in the West River Math Competition. He was inducted into the National Honor Society and graduated from Rapid City Central High School Suma Cum Laude.
He received two prestigious scholarships to attend the School of Mines and Technology which were delivered to our house, personally, by the President of the university. He spent a month in Germany as part of a his German class and was also a part of the German Club.
He participated in Knowledge Bowl and Science Bowl all through High School and even went back last year and was volunteering his time to help teach.
He was a graduate, alumni, mentor and then staff at the Youth Institute at the YMCA. He was a leader and a mentor and was always willing to help others. He was self-motivated from the time he was in kindergarten and he made everyone around him proud and thankful to have been able to know such a wonderful soul.
Gage's contributions
Gage was big on community involvement. He volunteered at the Humane Society of the Black Hills and would help out with walking the dogs and spending time with them and the cats. He went to the Cornerstone Mission several times when he was younger with his grandma to help serve food to the homeless.
He volunteered at and helped organize the Safe Halloween Carnival held at Central High School to provide a safe and fun place for kids to play games and trick-or-treat. He volunteered at the concession stands during sports events at Central High School. He came to Diabetes Camp one year and volunteered to help out with the younger kids.
Besides the community, Gage was always willing to help others. He would help his friends move, or help them move their family members. He would help anyone with school work as that is what he loved the most and he loved to teach others. He helped set up and tear down for events, including wedding receptions and an obstacle event course. He was such a kind and generous soul and is deeply missed by everyone who knew him.
Suicide Awareness
Suicide does not discriminate. Mental illness does not discriminate. Substance abuse does not discriminate. These are facts everyone needs to know. Everyone is at risk and the more open we are and the more we decrease the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, especially regarding men, the more we can begin to help more people who are suffering.
For too many generations men have been shown or forced to hide their emotions and be “tough”. Admitting that you are struggling and need help is the most courageous and bravest thing you can do. We should not shame anyone for asking for help. We should be praising them for being brave and help support them in getting the help they need.
The more we can love and support each other, the more we can hopefully decrease the alarming number of suicides every year. Please follow the link below for more information on risks and signs of suicide.
However, keep in mind that some people can appear completely fine and not seem to have any issues or struggles, but on the inside they are struggling more than they can handle and they may not know how to ask for help. Let’s be more proactive and genuinely ask people how they are doing and then the most important thing we can do after that is LISTEN.
https://save.org/about-suicide/warning-signs-risk-factors-protective-factors/
Local Crisis Center
The Crisis Care Center is located at 321 Kansas City Street in Rapid City, SD. You can call them at 605-391-4863. They provide immediate care for those 18+ with mental health or substance abuse concerns.
Team
Our Board
Trista Borgwardt
President
Andy Banks
Treasurer/Marketing
Tyler Borgwardt
Secretary