The UCLA School Of Law has announced The Chris Cornell Scholarship in honor of the late Soundgarden singer.
A coalition led by the rocker’s widow, Vicky Cornell, has created an endowed fund of more than $1 million to support student scholarships while honoring the rocker’s commitment to justice, human rights and advocacy for those in need.
Members of the coalition include several friends and colleagues of Cornell, as well as supporters of UCLA Law.
"My husband and I agreed that given the opportunity of education, people have the power to change the world,” Vicky explains. “UCLA School Of Law is an institution known for its academic excellence and we are proud to provide funding through the Chris Cornell Scholarship for future students and future leaders of the world."
“Vicky Cornell and all the people paying tribute to Chris Cornell’s tremendous legacy are helping to ensure that the law school will extend and strengthen its commitment to our students and to the pursuit of justice,” says UCLA Law Dean Jennifer Mnookin. “Through the work of the Promise Institute and the scholarships that this fund will support, Chris Cornell’s influence will be felt at UCLA Law and beyond for generations to come.”
“This endowment honors an influential musical artist who cared about human rights and enables others the opportunity to make a positive impact in the world,” adds UCLA Chancellor Gene Block.
As part of his long career as a singer, songwriter and performer, Cornell wrote and recorded the title song for 2017’s “The Promise”, the first feature film to highlight the story of the Armenian genocide. All proceeds from the film have gone toward human rights causes, including creation of the Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law; in addition, Cornell donated all of his proceeds from the song to the International Rescue Committee.
“The Promise” is nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best Rock Performance” category at next month's event, which will see it compete alongside songs by Foo Fighters, Leonard Cohen, Kaleo and Nothing More.
The 60th annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS from Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday, January 28.
Cornell took his own life in a Detroit hotel room in the early hours of May 18 following a Soundgarden show in the city; he was laid to rest during a private memorial service at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles on May 26.
See also:
Chris Cornell receives Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance
Chris Cornell video for The Promise released to mark World Refugee Day
Eddie Vedder delivers tribute to Chris Cornell in London
Soundgarden: Chris Cornell toxicology reports released
Search Soundgarden at hennemusic
