Lasting legacy: Jake and Josh Eckstein Memorial Trade Scholarship chooses first recipient, a Crook County future welder

(Update: Adding video, comments from parents, first scholarship recipient)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Two Bend parents are honoring the memory of their two sons with scholarships. Sadly, Jake and Josh Eckstein lost their lives in a crash in 2019. Now their mother and father are helping other young students achieve their goals. 

"It's a way of keeping the memory of them alive," Phyllis Eckstein said. Wednesday.

Phyllis and Scott Eckstein have created a long-lasting legacy for their sons - the Jake and Josh Eckstein Memorial Trade Scholarship.

The brothers were in a pickup truck on the icy Powell Butte Highway in March of 2019 and crashed into a large juniper tree. They had been heading to their construction jobs at Facebook's Prineville Data Center.

Phyllis said, "I's also a way of getting the word out about the trades. Our boys, that was their thing. They didn't want to sit in an office."

The scholarship is for high school students from Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties who want to go to trade school. 

Owen Clark, recently named as the first recipient of the scholarship, graduated from Crook County High School with plans for the future.

"I'm just really thankful they started that scholarship program," he said. "I think it's really great, what they're doing with all that funding."

Clark plans to take welding classes at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario.

"I'm going to get my associates degree there and take a one-year welding program, get certified, and then I'm going to go on the union for a while, welding on bridges and towers and stadiums and stuff," Clark added.

Scott Eckstein said, "He fits the the exact type of person that we're looking for. He has goals to be a business owner and be a welder."

Phyllis added, "He's a real good kid. He's going places."

The scholarship is awarded through the Oregon Community Foundation, which works with donors and volunteers to award grants and scholarships.

Recipients can get up to $1,000 from the fund, and students can apply twice.

The Ecksteins are looking for more financial support.

 They'd like to award even more scholarships to honor their sons, who had each hoped for a future in the trades.    

Phyllis said, "We would love for the trades business owners to donate, donating to the trades. It's just going to help our community. And it's all three counties, the tri-county area. So if you're a business owner, we would love for you to look up our scholarship and donate to it to help some of these future tradesmen and women."

 The Ecksteins said if you're interested in the trades, and would like to apply for the scholarship, they send information to area high schools. To give to the fund, an OCF online donation page is here.