Fallen Grad Remembered With Her Gift To LEUSD Students

Four outstanding Lake Elsinore Unified School District seniors will never forget Ashley Megan Bucklin.

Even though she passed away more than five years ago at the age of 18, Ashley is helping send the four grads to college this fall.

Danielle Van Breeman at Lakeside High School, Kevin Gugery and Victoria Engelhart at Elsinore High School, and Michael Pounds at Temescal Canyon High School each received a $250 Ashley Megan Bucklin Memorial Scholarship to help further their education.

The students were awarded the scholarships because of their outstanding abilities in the performing arts or aquatics, two subjects in which Ashley excelled.

A Temescal Canyon High School graduate, Ashley had a very bright future. She was a singer who loved to perform. Tragically, however, in October 2005 she was killed in a car crash only minutes from her family’s Lake Elsinore home.

On that rainy evening, Ashley had gone for a drive with her cousin to a Barnes & Noble, the family explained. The cousin lost control of the car they were in and hit a power pole.

Ashley was killed instantly.

As the Bucklins grieved, unbeknownst to them a scholarship in Ashley’s name was established by corporate donors for LEUSD students. As time passed, the family became involved and raised the scholarship funds.

Lake Elsinore Unified School District’s graduation ceremonies are set for next week. The occasion marks six years since Ashley walked with her Titans’ classmates to get her diploma.

For four 2011 graduates, however, Ashley is with them forever.