Curtis Schroeger was Matt's roommate for three years at the Rotary Scholarship House at FSU. They were not only roommates but became very good friends. They would go surfing together, worked out together. Curtis was a Music & Theatre major and graduated the semester before Matt was killed. He now dedicates all of his shows in memory of Matthew. I know Matt is so very proud of Curtis.
President of Florida State University, Dr T.K. Wetherell, speaks to a crowd of more than 15,000 about Matthew's accomplishments, his exciting research discovery during his internship at NOAA, at his college graduation April 27th, 2007 at the Civic Center in Tallahassee. Matt graduated posthumously with a degree in biology and a certificate in marine biology. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors in his major. Matthew is now a marine biologist.


Ceremony at RSMAS (Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science/Univ of Miami) and NOAA on May 11, 2007 honoring the life of Matthew Beard and to present a check to Matt's friend and research partner at NOAA, Ben Mason, from the money donated to the Matthew W. Beard Memorial Fund. Ben did a presentation (shown on the screen in the photo) outlining Matt's discovery and its significance with the coral reefs. In the photo is Matt's Mom presenting the check to Ben Mason along with Glenn Patton, managing director of The Sanctuary Friends Foundation of the Florida Keys.
Matt's memorial fund can be found at:
www.sanctuaryfriends.org
Poster hanging on the wall at NOAA Fisheries Division on corals. The poster is information for school children that come through on class trips. Matt's research discovery is included on the poster.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Golf Tournament at Waterlefe Golf and Country Club in Bradenton, Fl on 6/23/07 held to support and remember the victims and victim's families of drunk drivers.


Memorial plaque from the SCUBA club at FSU with Matt's name and dates. They placed it in the ocean around West Palm Beach 140 ft down in a shipwreck, a place where only serious divers would go so it would not be disturbed. They took the plaque near where Matt would have went diving with his friends had the drunk driver not taken his life instead.
My friend and attorney, Diego Asencio, went on the Deepsea Submarine in Cocos Islands, Costa Rica and made sure to bring Matthew with him on his trip. This photo was taken at 307 meters (about 1000 ft) down. ~ January 1, 2008
Stop DUI In 24 Hours Event held by the Florida State University Police Department on March 1 & 2, 2008. Some of Matt's friends, and a few that never met him but know his story, joined in and rode their bikes in memory and honor of Matt and also of all other victims of this horrible crime. To bring awareness to others that we are taking our roads back from the drunk drivers! We will not sit back while they claim the lives of innocent people! The SCUBA community at FSU came through in a big way for Matt and for others -- thank you!
This is Major Jim Russell, the Asst Chief of Police at FSU. Jim is a very dear friend of mine and is extremely passionate with working against DUI. He worked extremely hard in putting this event together and did a wonderful job. He is an avid cyclist and got out there himself and rode many miles -- as he has done on many occasions to bring awareness to this crime.

Chief David Perry, the Chief of Police at Florida State. An amazing and compassionate man who works so hard to keep our children safe, our roads safe, who cares deeply.
I told Matt's story, who Matt was -- who Matt is -- his goals, his dreams, his accomplishments, his passion for life, his dedication to everything he did. I spoke to the students about that awful night, the night I got "the phone call". The week that followed while Matt was on life support. I let them know what it is like to lose your child. Tried to make them understand as best I could, let them know that they don't want their parents to be in my shoes nor do they want to be the cause of another student's parents to be in my shoes. The could make responsible choices. If even one student chooses not to ever drink and drive again after hearing Matthew's story and how another person's selfish and criminal act ended his life way too soon and created a never ending nightmare for me then that makes a huge difference.
Ashley and Gabrielle, two of the members of Team 4Matt -- with scuba gear decorating their helmet!
Marissa and Lisa - two really sweet girls
Ashley, LeVar and Gabrielle from Team 4Matt receiving their medals
Rita -- she rode all night long and was one of two participants that won a new bike!
Matt's photo on the wall at the FSU Police Dept - top right.

Standing with Maj Jim Russell in front of Matt's picture

The Florida State University Office of Residence Life and the FSU Police Department hosted Alcohol Awareness Week from November 3 - 8, 2008. I spoke at the event along with an FSU student who had drove drunk and now has a DUI and speaks to students and the mother of a young man who drove drunk and killed two girls in Tallahassee and is now in prison.


Matt's friend Tarah writing to Matt on the Memory Wall that was dedicated to all of those lost to the selfish and criminal act of drunk drivers.



The Memory Wall
An Aggressive Driving/Dui Saturation was conducted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on December 19, 2008 from 6:00 PM - 4:00 AM and dedicated to Matt. (This was the same day the Mauricio Gomez, the drunk driver that killed Matthew, was sentenced to 12 years in prison) Over 900 citations were issued and 13 DUI arrests were made -- that is at the minimum 13 "Matthews" whose lives were likely saved by getting these drunk drivers off of the road. So many parents that will not be walking in my shoes because of these amazing officers. Sgt Wm Gray, who heads the DUI Unit of the PBSO, presented this plaque to me that was signed by the officers and now has a special place in my home. The PBSO are an outstanding group of officers, I am so proud of them and so very grateful to them.