Sister of lost hiker sending postcards to people who donate to Memorial University scholarship
CBC
The loss of Jordan Naterer rocked his family's world, but has now prompted his sister to create a scholarship in the young man's name.
The 25-year-old from Newfoundland and Labrador went missing while hiking in a remote section of a British Columbia park on Oct. 12, 2020.
A 10-month search by Naterer's family, friends and hundreds of volunteers ended the next year when they found his body.
Jordan Naterer studied engineering at Memorial University. His younger sister, Veronica Naterer, said he was just two years post-graduation when he went missing.
"When he died, he had so much more to give," she said. "He had a very bright future ahead of him."
Veronica Naterer was in her first year of engineering at Memorial University when she lost her brother.
Their father, Greg Naterer was the dean of engineering. He now lives on Prince Edward Island, working as the vice-president academic and research at the University of PEI.
To honour Jordan's memory, Veronica Naterer created a scholarship in her brother's name.
"I started it in 2022," she said. "We raised money through a hike that we organized and it's been going great ever since."
Veronica Naterer said her brother's legacy is one of kindness — something she wants carry forward with his scholarship.
She recalls something he used to say: "All I do is try to be kind."
"I think it's a really important message that, whatever you're going through, whatever you're doing in your day-to-day life, it's just important to try to be kind to everyone around you," she said.
The $1,000 Jordan Naterer Memorial Scholarship in Engineering is awarded annually to a Memorial University electrical engineering student who is academically strong and shows a commitment to community service.
Veronica Naterer said her brother wished he was more involved when studying at MUN. That's why the scholarship emphasizes community service.
