Scholarship announced to honor Lt. Richard Collins III

BOWIE, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - Nearly two years after Lt. Richard Collins III was stabbed to death in what police call a hate crime on the University of Maryland's campus his family is announcing a scholarship in his honor which will benefit students at his alma mater of Bowie State University.

Collins, who had just been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army, was killed in an unprovoked attack while waiting for an Uber with friends after a visit to the campus.

"He was very patriotic and eager to get out to do his part to serve his country," said Collins' father Richard Collins II.

The scholarship is funded by donations and will likely be ready for recipients in 2020, according to Bowie State University.

Dawn and Richard Collins spoke to FOX 5 Monday about the scholarship and a foundation they created in their son's name.

"The day after his commissioning we were sitting in the den and he says 'Mom, the world is going to know my name,' and with him saying that to me, we knew that we had to do something," said Dawn Collins.

The 2nd Lt. Richard Collins III Foundation will be used to advocate for tighter hate crimes legislation.

According to court records, Sean Urbanski, the man police say killed Collins and was in a racist Facebook group, is fighting to have the hate crimes charge dismissed.

Urbanksi is expected to go to trial in July.

Donations to the scholarship in Collins' name can be made at bowiestate.edu/richardcollins.

"Richard wasn't about the hate and we feel that doing this scholarship and partnering with Bowie is a way to stem that tide," said Dawn Collins.