Sean Collier Fundraiser Set for Friday Night

A large crowd is expected to honor slain MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, a Wilmington resident, on Friday night in Tewksbury during the first fundraising event for a scholarship that has been formed in his name.

From 7:30-11 p.m. at the Tewksbury Knights of Columbus there will be a DJ, a cash bar and silent auctions. Among the items up for bid are box seats to every major Boston sports team, box seats to watch a Bruins game next season in a private suite with Ray Bourque, a jersey signed by the 2013 Boston Bruins, and much more.

The scholarship is for any Wilmington High School senior accepted to a two- or four-year college program that will lead to a career in criminal justice, law enforcement or the military. The Collier family will read all of the essays for the award and choose the two winning entries that will be awarded $1,000 each.

Collier graduated from WHS in 2004, and by all accounts was extremely well-liked during his time at the school. Class president Scott Brady, vice president Emily Dorrance, secretary Erin Dorrance and treasurer Marissa Bortone planned Friday's fundraiser and developed the idea for the scholarship in their classmate's name.

“It’s been really touching and mind-blowing to see how the community wants to honor Sean and keep his legacy alive in the Wilmington school community,” Bortone, currently a WHS English teacher, told Patch when the event was annouced. "Even though we lost an incredible person, and that is very sad, you can see his spirit in all of these people who want to rally and help in any way that they can. This is the kind of stuff that helps people heal."