The Syracuse Housing Authority will honor the memory of 11-year-old Brexialee Torrez-Ortiz with an annual $5,000 scholarship. Torrez-Ortiz, a middle school honors student and class president, was killed last month in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting.
The scholarship will be awarded to a public housing resident who plans to enter a 2- or 4-year college and embodies Brexi’s extraordinary spirit. SHA Executive Director Bill Simmons said the tragic loss of Brexi has been devastating for the community.
He said scholarship recipients who intend to continue their education will be able to do so in the same way he believes Brexi would have.
In a press release, SHA, which owns the building that hosues the Central Village Boys and Girls Club operates from, said it plans to rename the youth center in Brexi’s honor in the spring.