Brian Solem Memorial Scholarship

In July 1984, a terrible auto accident claimed three precious lives and changed three families forever. Brian Solem, from the graduating class of 1983, was one of the three who lost their lives. He had three brothers, and his family lived in Topanga.

When Brian first came to CLU, it was difficult for him to remain an anonymous student. His father, John Solem, had been part of the CLU art faculty since 1966 and the Solem name was part of the University. Brian had decided to major in geology and he had not yet realized his professional dreams when the accident occurred. He was with his buddy and fellow geology major, Sven Slattum, and Sally Jo Mullins, a soon-to-be senior, the night of the tragic accident.

In the weeks following, the campus was flooded with memorial gifts for the three. From that one dreadful event, three endowed scholarships and a beautiful meditation circle came into existence, each with a story and emphasis of its own. The scholarships in memory of Brian Solem and Sven Slattum were both established for the benefit of future geology students.