Schools

Shooting Victim Carmen Schentrup Never Knew She Was a National Merit Finalist

by Sharon Aron Baron February 19, 2018

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Carmen Schentrup

By: Sharon Aron Baron

The letter congratulating her for becoming a National Merit Scholarship Finalist would reach Carmen Schentrup’s home just one day after she was killed by a gunman at her school.

Schentrup, 16, was one of 17 victims that lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last Wednesday. She was featured in Parkland Talk as a National Merit Scholar Semi-finalist last November and went on to become one of 15,000 students in the country to make finalist.

Carmen had just received good news last week that she was accepted into the University of Florida Honors program, however, her brother Robert said she also really wanted to attend the University of Washington because they had a good medical research program. This was something she was inspired to do after her great-aunt suffered, and later died of ALS. Carmen said she wanted to help do something about it.

Carmen Schentrup’s senior photo.

Her family moved to Parkland from Hollywood FL where Carmen attended Westglades Middle School for two years before heading over to Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Carmen was an avid reader and loved a good story, routinely reading over 100 per year. Like most teenagers, she also enjoyed TV and movies, especially sci-fi, fantasy, and comedies. Carmen was artistic and loved music and enjoyed drawing and visiting art museums. She played piano, violin, guitar, and sang in the church choir. Her parents said they will miss her filling their home with music.

When she was 12, she had major surgery that resulted in four metal rods sticking out of her leg for months. Her parents Bill and April said that she never once complained about it and never attempted to hide the scars. Not one to pass up a good joke, she would often come up with funny stories about her scars, like when she said she got them “running with the bulls”.

A couple of years ago Carmen dreamed of visiting Germany, so she spent a year teaching herself the language. Last summer, she planned the family vacation to Germany and played the role of translator and guide.

“She was compassionate, she was a hard-worker, and she strived for the best future possible,” said her brother Robert, a 2017 graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas who now attends the University of Central Florida.

Funeral

The viewing for Carmen Schentrup will be held on Monday, February 19 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church 1400 Riverside Drive, Coral Springs. This is for family and friends of the family.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 20, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Andrew Catholic Church 9950 NW 29th Street Coral Springs. This will be an Episcopalian service.