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A teenage boy who grew up near the place where Stephen Lawrence was murdered is to study architecture at Harvard University in his memory.
Luke Henry-Powell will be funded by a group set up by Stephen's mother Doreen. He is one of three London students who will take the six-week university course after a nationwide search.
Stephen, who was stabbed in Eltham in 1993, wanted to be an architect.
Following his death his mother set up the Architecture for Everyone campaign in partnership with architects' firm RMJM and £1million from the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
The project aims to encourage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to follows careers in architecture and urban design.
The candidates had to present two ideas for buildings they wanted to create. They were then interviewed by architects and a representative from Harvard at the Stephen Lawrence centre in Deptford.
The centre, which opened last year, provides training and mentoring in architecture and design. This is the first time the charitable trust has sent students to America.
Luke, 18, said: "I live just around the corner from the Stephen Lawrence centre, and I often have to go past the bus stop where he was killed.
It would have been great if Stephen could have become an architect himself, but I am proud to be doing this in his name."
He will travel to Harvard on Saturday with Oni Hinton, 20, of Crouch End, Yohanna Iyasu, 19, from Ilford, and three other students from Liverpool, Glasgow and Birmingham.
In September Luke will start a degree in spacial and urban design at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communications.
The student was expelled from Sedgehill school in Lewisham at the age of 13. He began training as a painter and decorator but was accepted back at school and passed 10 GCSEs and three A-levels.
"When I was younger I didn't get on very well at school," he said. "I wanted to be more hands-on, and mainstream subjects didn't fit me. Architecture has always been a passion of mine.
"I'm nervous, excited and a bit worried about whether I'll be able to keep up with the workload at Harvard but it's comforting we're all going as a group and will be able to help each other."
Oni always wanted to be an architect, but failed her A-levels after she was struck down by glandular fever and her parents divorced.
Oni, who now works in a jewellery shop in Wood Green, said: "I've always been ambitious but because of problems at home and my illness I didn't know what direction to go in.
"I'm so excited about this opportunity to get my life back on track."
Yohanna moved to Ilford from Eritrea aged 11. She could not speak English, so struggled at school and failed her GCSEs.
She is now fluent in English and studying art and design in Birmingham.
She said: "Everyone thinks my younger brother is really smart but now I'm the one going to one of the world's best universities."
Mrs Lawrence said: "I'm so thrilled that Stephen's name has been able to inspire other young people to fulfil their dreams.
"Going to Harvard is such an amazing, life-changing opportunity."
Reader views (5)
Sally - A good education is priceless, regardless of the funding source.
- Eddie Bowler, Bromley, UK, 10/06/2009 18:01
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Sallyr, London, UK - Take your point, but isnt this a positive legacy when all is considered?
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 10/06/2009 13:49
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The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust only helps disadvantaged young people who are black or from a racial minority.
Given that he was murdered by people who also believe in racial segregation, is this really a fitting tribute to his tragically-shortened life?
- Sallyr, London, UK, 10/06/2009 13:03
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Well done to these students for staying in school when the outside pressures are so distracting and hard, all the best for you and your futures. And thank you to the Lawerences' for creating this opportunity for them. As Dave Davies has written 'A positive legacy from an awful murder.'
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK, 10/06/2009 10:07
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A positive legacy from an awful murder.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 10/06/2009 09:27
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