Eudora seniors wear ribbon for student killed in 2011 crash
EUDORA, Kan. — Some graduating seniors at Eudora High School plan to honor their late classmate Cainan Shutt as they walk across the stage on Saturday.
Shutt was killed in a car crash on April 16, 2011.
Thirteen years later, his classmates are making sure he’s remembered in the class of 2024.
“For graduation, we are wearing blue ribbons for Cainan Shutt because he was in our kindergarten class, and we are in a small community, we know everyone, and he was a big part of us,” said Joellen Vogt, a graduating senior. “Even kids that didn’t really know him just knew of him. They still want to be able to honor him. Even kids who didn’t go to kindergarten with us still want to honor him and show the family that he is still part of our community.“
Rachaad White hosts camp at Center High School
Five-year-old Cainan Shutt died after an impaired driver crossed a grass median on Kansas Highway 10 and slammed into the car the boy’s grandfather was driving.
His younger sister, Courtlyn Shutt, was in the car and was also injured; Courtlyn survived.
“He was in our class. We did projects with him. It feels good to be able to honor him. The whole situation affected our community, and everyone in the community knew about it,” Vogt said.” And it’s still affecting people today. To know that we are still trying to honor him to the best of our abilities is what we are trying to accomplish.“
Cainan’s family is grateful for the students who are making sure he’s remembered in the class of 2024.
“It’s so great. And the young girl that started that he went to preschool with. So we love that,” said Alison Raboin. “It means the world to us.”
Labor and Delivery department to close at KCK hospital
Over the years, Cainan’s family has given scholarships back to Eudora students.
His family pushed for barrier cables to be installed on K-10.
KDOT later installed those cables on the highway.
“We had great community support. As a town, Eudora really did a wonderful job supporting his loss. And Coco’s (Courtlyn’s) recovery, and we’re very, very grateful for that,” Raboin said. “We just kind of wish that he could be honored for one last moment because, again, for 13 years, he has given back.”
“He has saved a lot of lives on that highway. We’ve given a lot of money back to the community. So we would like him to get this recognition,” Raboin said.
The blue ribbons students plan to wear are not an Eudora School District-supported activity.
Courtlyn Shutt sent FOX4 the following statement about her brother and his legacy.
“His name and legacy continues to live through me, his family, and the philanthropy that is his forever legacy. Over the past 13 years, Cainan’s Name has been remembered through giving:
Cables for Cainan, with the help of my mother advocating for K-10 safety the Cables where constructed and over the past 10 years have continued to saving lives.
“Cainan’s High School Scholarship has recognized several of Eudora’s future leaders and public safety advocates. Scholarships were raised from the efforts of my dad, Tommy Shutt, who worked with area volunteers to have multiple softball tournaments,” Courtlyn Shutt said.
“The year “2024 would have been Cainan’s graduating class. For you graduates, Cainan would have been your classmate, friend, teammate, and fellow graduate. His name will forever live with this class. This will be the last scholarship in Cainan’s name. Cainan’s family will forever remember his legacy, and we hope that the graduates of the Class of 2024 and the town of Eudora will remember his contribution to the community,” Courtlyn Shutt continued.
See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri
“Our request to have his name honored and recognized at this year’s graduation ceremony was declined by the school district, we hope that his name is honored and remembered for his kindness and for being the fun older brother that I remember.”
“Cainan is forever in our memory. God bless and congratulations to the Class of 2024 and the recipients of the last Cainan Thomas Shutt Memorial Scholarships.“
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
