LEBANON - The family of Samantha Stephens, who died in a motorcycle accident near Lebanon last August, has established a $500 scholarship in her memory.

Scholarships will be awarded to successful applicants from Lebanon who plan to attend Western Oregon University in Monmouth. Samantha was a student there before her death, majoring in psychology with a minor in dance.

To be eligible, applicants must submit essays briefly describing themselves, their goals, and how they will use the scholarship to further their lives.

"We would like to give this to a working student paying most of their way," said Kathy Norris, Samantha's mother.

The scholarship has been established through Key Bank. Applications will be accepted there through May 27.

On Aug. 17, 2007, Samantha, 21, was riding on a 2005 Kawasaki Ninja operated by Stephen David Candler, 22, of Lebanon. They were headed west on Rock Hill Drive when the motorcycle left the road and hit a ditch.

Sheriff's deputies said the bike appeared to have tumbled about 180 feet before coming to a stop. Both riders were wearing helmets but did not survive the impact.

The family struggles daily with the loss, Norris said. It helps to know how many people cared, and to see hundreds of star-shaped "In Memory of Samantha Stephens" car stickers around town.

Samantha loved stars and had a small one tattooed on her left wrist, her mother said. "She would be so proud of us, I hated tattoos and now her whole family has the same, including myself."

A friend even named a star for her on the international star registry, Norris said. It is in the Andromeda constellation that shines over Oregon in the summer. Named for the Greek princess, the constellation is particularly appropriate for Samantha, who was a princess on the Lebanon Strawberry Court, her mother noted.

"Samantha was a special girl and touched so many lives. There were over 600 people at her service," Norris said. "Everyone there said, 'You met her once and she changed or touched your life.'

"Samantha's loss to us has been more than we can bear at times," Norris said. However, she added, "Someone said, 'If you were told in the beginning you could only have her 21 years, would you?' Of course."