The college established an annual $1,000 Lucas Flint Memorial Scholarship, starting in fall 2019, for incoming students after Emerson parent Kate Mueth raised over $4,000 through a Facebook fundraiser for Lucas’ family.
Director of Parent and Family Philanthropy Eva Rosenn said the award will go to an incoming visual and media arts student with demonstrated financial need. Students will not need to apply for the scholarship; instead, the college will automatically include it in the recipient’s financial aid package.
Mueth—of East Hampton, New York—started the fundraiser on her birthday in January to raise money for Lucas’ mother, Susan Flint of Braintree, Massachusetts after she read an emailed announcement from President M. Lee Pelton about Lucas Flint’s death on Dec. 18. Lucas Flint was hit by a drunk driver on Dec. 15 while walking home from his job at the Laugh Boston Comedy Club, according to the Braintree Police Department.
“The fact that [Mueth] raised so much money from people I don’t even know is amazing—people [Lucas] didn’t even know,” Susan said in a phone interview from her home.
Susan Flint said she decided to use the money to create a remembrance for Lucas and worked with Mueth and Rosenn to bring the idea to life.
Mueth said in a phone interview she felt inspired while working with Susan Flint to create the scholarship.
“As the mother of an only child as well, watching this—it takes my breath away. I am a better person now for having met [Susan Flint],” Mueth said.
Mueth said she met with Susan Flint and Rosenn for lunch in Boston and debated several options to memorialize Lucas Flint at Emerson. They considered a paid internship at Emerson’s radio station WERS, where Lucas volunteered; a scholarship for a student to attend the Emerson Los Angeles program, which Lucas planned on participating in; or for someone in the visual and media arts department, Lucas’ major while at Emerson.
“Kate asked if we could have a couple of options to present to Susan and let Susan choose,” Rosenn said in an interview. “I thought that was a really lovely idea.”
Susan Flint decided on a $1,000-per-year scholarship to ensure the funds Mueth raised would last four years.
“I know a thousand dollars would have changed my world, had Lucas received a thousand-dollar scholarship,” Susan Flint said. “That’s a big help, that’s a make-or-break for people.”
Mueth said she will commit to fundraise for the award every year to ensure its longevity.
“I felt it was more important right now that [the scholarship] had a life going forward than have it be a big chunk of money and have to work to try and see if we can get it happening again next year,” Mueth said. “I wanted to give it a life of four years.”
Rosenn said as long as the scholarship retains funding through fundraising, the school can continue to offer it to incoming students, whether or not the amount increases or decreases with time.
In addition to the scholarship, Susan Flint said WERS will hang a plaque in their studio to honor Lucas Flint, a long-time volunteer at the station. Susan Flint said she plans to volunteer this year for the WERS fundraising drive her son worked on.
Susan Flint said she also hopes to memorialize Lucas Flint with a nameplate on a seat at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, where he was a long-time member. She had several other plans to memorialize her son but said many of her ideas are still in the works.
President M. Lee Pelton and newly appointed Campus Chaplain Rev. Julie Avis Rogers visited Susan Flint at her home in early February to deliver Lucas Flint’s framed acceptance letter to the Emerson Los Angeles program.
“I only wish he got the letter before this all happened,” Susan Flint said. “And I hope he knows. I can only think he knows. But I can’t say anything more than I’m so proud.”
Susan Flint said she will be working with Avis Rogers to organize a celebration of life for Lucas at Emerson after midterm exams in February.
