Justin's Endowment Scholarship
At the time of his death, Justin was a junior accounting major with an internship lined up at EY in San Francisco for the summer of 2022. Justin was enrolled in two accounting classes in Fall 2021. He excelled in his classes and was always willing to spend his time tutoring others. In ACTG 120, Justin was the only one out of a total of 150 students who got 100% on the first midterm exam. Professor Haoning Richter, the ACTG 120 professor, was very impressed by Justin’s creativity and thoughtfulness in his class presentation. Professor Kevin Li, his ACTG 130 professor, remembers Justin as a strong accounting student. Even though the class started quite early at 8:30, Justin always came to the class full of energy. This was Justin, always positive, energetic, hardworking and cheerful.
To honor Justin’s memory, the Justin Ebner Endowed Accounting Scholarship was established at Santa Clara University to provide scholarship assistance for junior accounting majors who show a love of accounting and work to help and inspire others. He excelled in his accounting classes and was always willing to spend his time tutoring others.
To date, the scholarship has raised nearly $600,000 from over 550 individual donors – the largest in school history by number of donors.
Justin Ebner Memorial Invitational Volleyball Tournament
In April 2022, Bellarmine College Prep, renamed their annual volleyball tournament after Justin. The tournament is an invitational with many of the top teams in California competing, including several teams from Southern California. The price of admission is for players and spectators to read about Justin and reflect on who he was as a player and a human being. His blue Live Like Justin / You Matter wristbands are handed out with the following message,
“Justin was always that guy to encourage and support others. He was the first person to be at your door if you wanted to talk or were going through a hard time. And he was the first person to celebrate one of your successes, no matter how small.
In a letter to one of his friends, he wrote, “I know you also have your own issues at times so whenever you need any support just put on this hoodie and remember that you matter to me and other people and that even when you are feeling low, you need to remember that you are strong and have persevered through so much.”
So remember that YOU MATTER, and let us all LIVE LIKE JUSTIN.
Tag your photos from the tourney with you wearing your wristband with #LiveLikeJustin and #YouMatter.”
In addition, instead of MVP awards, the tournament acknowledges those players who embody Justin’s team spirit with special “Live Like Justin” trophies.
Justin Ebner Annual MS Volleyball Tournament
For over 34 years, Sigma Pi fraternity at Santa Clara University had organized an annual MS Volleyball Tournament in Santa Cruz. The tournament is a campus tradition, allowing participants from a variety of student organizations to come together for an afternoon of volleyball, that raises much-needed funds and awareness for the fight against Multiple Sclerosis in the local community.
In May 2022, Sigma Pi renamed the tournament after Justin as the Justin Ebner Annual MS Volleyball tournament. In 2023, the 36th annual Justin Ebner MS Volleyball tournament raised over $44,000.
Justin's SCU Volleyball Bench
Justin loved playing beach volleyball at the sand courts on the Santa Clara University campus. The only problem with the courts was there was no place to sit when taking a break. His brothers at Sigma Pi initiated the installation of a bench at the courts.
On May 2, 2023, a special gathering took place as Justin’s family and friends from Santa Clara University came together for the dedication and blessing of the bench. This event was not just a simple ceremony but a heartfelt celebration of Justin’s spirit, his love for friends, sports, and the joy he brought to those around him. The bench now stands as a permanent tribute to Justin, embodying his enthusiasm and the close-knit community he was a part of.
The Ebner family was thankful to Danny Bowers and Anthony Katwan for sharing their memories of Justin and to Father Art Liebscher for the blessing and continue to be so grateful to the Santa Clara University community for their love and support.
Today, the bench remains for Santa Clara University students as a place to gather, rest, and remember Justin. It symbolizes the lasting legacy of community spirit and friendship, standing as a testament to Justin’s life and the bonds that continue to thrive in his memory.