HOUSTON -- A Houston-area student's recollection of the most painful day in his life helped him win a scholarship, KPRC Local 2, Your Education Station, reported Wednesday.

Brandon Gassaway, 18, remembers every detail of the day his mother died. It was at the hands of his father.

Two years later, Brandon reflected on those painful memories in an essay he submitted to the Children's Defense Fund Beat the Odds Scholarship. He is one of five students to win the $10,000 award.

In the essay, Brandon wrote, "My father stabbed my beloved mother to death. My whole life as I knew it was changed in the blink of an eye."

He told Local 2, "I hate what he did, but I still love my dad, so it was hard and I've forgiven him for what he's done."

After losing his mother, Cheryl, to murder and his father, Kelvin, to jail, Brandon and his sister were split up in a custody tug-of-war.

Brandon came to Houston from the Dallas area to live with his maternal grandparents. His sister moved to Amarillo to be with his father's parents.

Brandon's grandmother, Florence Holley, said, "I don't think I'll ever get rid of the hurt, the pain, but we're going to move forward day by day."

Brandon enrolled in Bellaire High School just two weeks after his mother's death and struggled to make the transition. At the school, he found counselors to talk to, his GPA rose to 3.447 and slowly, he began to heal.

Bellaire High assistant principal and lead counselor Willie Franklyn said, "(Brandon) is not just one of the most outstanding students I've met since I've been at Bellaire, but one of the most outstanding students I've met in my entire career in teaching."

Brandon believes the experience "only made me stronger in my faith. I know I was able to get through this."

The Beat the Odds Scholarship is helping Brandon secure his future. He plans to use the money toward his tuition at the University of New Mexico next fall.

Though sad to see him go away to school, Brandon's grandparents beam with pride for Brandon and the daughter they lost.

His grandmother said, "She'd be proud. She's proud of him. She's guiding us."

Now, Brandon is counting down the days to graduation.

More Information:

Scholarship Winners From Texas