Elijah Armand Wrancher

Elijah Armand Wrancher was born July 18, 1995 in Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was christened as a baby on March 19, 1995 at the Presbyterian Church of Saint Albans. He and his family would attend services there when they were home (Queens, NY). He grew quickly and enjoy many playful moments under the watchful of a very protective older brother. Unfortunately, his parent divorced when he was 1-1/2 years old and as result he, his older brother and his mother headed to Germany in December 1999 and they lived there (Grafenwoehr and then Heidelberg) for 5 years. When he started elementary school, he was selected in 2nd grade to be a student in a German Emersion Class. He received classroom instruction which was given in German and did well in that academic setting. Elijah was blessed to see several countries overseas to include Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. He also grew spiritually as his family attended the Jesus World Outreach Center. At the age of 5, Elijah would accept Christ as his Saviour and would begin his Christian walk. He would also demonstrate an interest in sports playing soccer and basketball while his mother was stationed overseas. He was able to participated in team sports and learn the value of teamwork through Army’s Child Development and Youth Services.

Upon return to the States with his family, Elijah lived in Virginia four years. Third grade was difficult for Elijah because his English and Reading skills were below his grade level. Reading at a 2nd grade level, his mother took quick action enrolling him in a Sylvan Learning Center in Northern Virginia. It a little over six months but Elijah English comprehension and Reading skills improving greatly. He was reading at a 4th grade level. Elijah would continue to excel and his self-confidence grew. By the time he entered the 5th grade, Elijah was reading with the aptitude of a 16 year-old but his favorite subjects were Math and Science. He began unlocking his hidden talents. Elijah during the course of his life played the piano and took instruction in Tae Kwon Do. The summer of 2005, the family would enjoy a fun-filled cruise, on the Carnival Cruise, the Fascination. It was a family trip before the family separated with his mother going to serve in Korea and his older brother off to college and Elijah would stay with his maternal grandmother. He constantly displayed the spirit of Christ, as he showed love and compassion to all family and friends. He was well liked by his classmates and was a recipient of the “Good Citizen” during the 2006-2007 school year.

During the summer of 2007, he went to Korea. From there he and his mother traveled to Australia and where he visited the city of Sydney, saw Sydney’s Opera House, the Blue Mountains, Nelson Bay, both Manley and Bondi Beaches, the Lucern Caverns and the “Three Sisters” and then to China where he visited the city of Beijing, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Tiananmen Square, the pearl and silk factories and showrooms and scaled The Great Wall. His most recent activities were playing football and enjoyed playing chess but he loved golf the most. He would enjoy summer camp and undergo the rigors of football camp practicing with the Springfield Rifles. Elijah was 12 years old and had completed 6th grade and with the commencement of this school year (2007-2008) he would have begun 7th grade. On the afternoon of Tuesday, August 28, 2007, Elijah was ran over by a truck while riding his bike. He was very intelligent, articulate and had a witty sense of humor. He demonstrated the attributes of a future lawyer by always stating words in defense of or on behalf of anyone you spoke of poorly in his presence. With his acute and agile mind, he was always offering words in that person’s defense and made an effort to present an explanation on their behalf. He was a loving child who aspired to be a lawyer and minister. This scholarship bears his name and is started in his memory to help other students realize the goal Elijah will never attain.

The Elijah A. Wrancher Future Lawyer/Minister Scholarship

Elijah's family started a scholarship in his name to provide funding for high school students who demonstrate academic excellence and aspire to be lawyers or ministers. The fund is managed by the Education Commission of the Presbyterian Church of Saint Albans. Your donation will be used towards students scholarships and all contributions are a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible donation

To Donate by Check

Mail your check, payable to:

The Elijah A. Wrancher Future
Lawyer/Minister Scholarship

Mail to:
The Presbyterian Church of Saint Albans
ATTN: Education Commission
119 -04 190th Avenue
Saint Albans, NY 11412