Two St. Edward’s University students received the first William Hartley Cahill Memorial Scholarships last week, almost a year after the passing of the former Vice President of Information Technology Bill Cahill.

On Jan. 28, junior Naema Showery and sophomore Dallas Hudgens were presented as the inaugural recipients of the new annually-funded $2,500 awards in an event in the Mabee Ballroom. The scholarship is named after Cahill, who died suddenly last March at the age of 55.

Cahill designed the financial aid calculator used by prospective students on the St. Edward’s recruiting Web site.

Hudgens said she was shocked and excited to win the new scholarship. Showery could not be reached for comment.

Cahill’s family, including his son Matthew Cahill, a senior student at the university, and widow, Hazel, were on hand to present the award to Showery and Hudgens in the ceremony in the Mabee Ballroom.

“I couldn’t be happier and I think it’s a great scholarship program,” Matt Cahill said.He added that he was grateful for everyone involved in the scholarship’s creation and funding.

Technology Area Coordinator Patrick Inglehart said that Hazel Cahill set the minimum grade point average at 3.5. The other criteria for the awards included demonstrated financial need. Service in departments related to technology at the university was also preferred.Hudgens and Showery were selected from a list of eight nominees, which was generated by Student Financial Services. The two finalists were selected based on length of service in IT, hours worked per week and written comments from supervisors.

The idea for the award came from senior Blaise Restovic. Restovic said that he came up with the idea while working as a summer intern for Media Services.

“One day, just me and my boss Patrick [Inglehart] thought it would be a good idea to have a staff-funded scholarship for IT students,” Restovic said.

The idea moved forward from there, and the scholarship will now be a yearly award at the university.