The Peace Fr☮g Legacy Scholarship supports those individuals who have demonstrated resilience, overcome adversity, and are committed to creating a positive future for themselves and their communities. This scholarship was established in memory of Erik Straub, who passed away in May 2026, inspired by his journey of perseverance, recovery, and personal growth.

Erik’s life was a testament to resilience and the power of second chances. After facing significant challenges brought about by years of addiction, he achieved and maintained sobriety for ten years before he left this world, demonstrating that recovery is possible and that a person’s past does not define their future.

The Peace Fr☮g Legacy Scholarship honors Erik’s legacy by helping others pursue education, training, and opportunities to create brighter futures.

Scholarship applications will be accepted from Greenville Senior High School seniors who are pursing degrees in the following fields:

Health & Recovery
Community Service
Skilled Trades
Pastoral Ministry

Erik loved music, laughter, family, and living life on his own terms. He wasn't perfect, but he was real. He wasn’t perfect, but he was real. His story reminds us that everyone deserves compassion, encouragement, and the opportunity to write a new chapter. Those who knew Erik remember his sense of humor, his unique spirit, and his determination to keep moving forward. Through this scholarship, Erik’s legacy lives on by helping individuals pursue education, training, and opportunities that create brighter futures.

On March 15, 2015, Erik began the journey that would change his life forever. After years of struggling with drug addiction, he made the decision to fight for a different future. In his own words, written March 15, 2025:

“Today is my 10th year clean and sober. I’m not saying that to boast or say I am better than the next. I’m here sharing this to give hope to someone who might be struggling and not sure how to get and stay sober. Just know that, if I can do this, then so can you or anyone else that truly wants a better life.”

Even while facing cirrhosis and liver cancer later in life, Erik continued to encourage others, writing:

“I’m not giving up on myself this time. If God saved me and guided me, He will do it for you.”

Erik believed in second changes, in the power of faith, and in the possibility of transformation. His life is a reminder that our past does not determine our future, and that hope can be found even in our darkest moment.

The Peace Fr☮g Legacy Scholarship is a privately funded memorial scholarship. At this time, contributions made directly to the Peace Fr☮g Legacy Scholarship are not tax-deductible charitable donations. Donors should consult their tax advisor regarding any questions about tax treatment. 100% of donated funds received by the Peace Fr☮g Legacy Scholarship are dedicated to supporting scholarship awards and scholarship program expenses.

Peace Fr☮g Legacy Scholarship

A person's greatest chapter can begin after their hardest battle.

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Peace Fr☮g Legacy Scholarship