San Francisco, September 2024 – Outward Bound California, part of a national network of Outward Bound outdoor experiential learning schools, announces the creation of the Meg O’Neill Shooting Star Scholarship, established in memory of educator and climber Meg O’Neill.
O’Neill, a beloved member of the climbing community and Outward Bound Instructor, lost her life while saving a fellow climber from falling ice on April 2, 2023.
The scholarship will offer nine San Francisco Bay Area high school girls the opportunity to participate in a six-day Outward Bound expedition in the Sierra Nevada. Participants will build confidence, leadership, and navigation skills while camping by alpine lakes.
“The Meg O’Neill Shooting Star Scholarship honors Meg’s legacy of adventure, mentorship, and commitment to empowering girls through outdoor education,” says Outward Bound California Director of Advancement Leslie Velez. “Her life was dedicated to teaching others to find their strength in the outdoors. Her legacy will live on through the young women whose lives will be transformed by this scholarship.”
O’Neill was a skilled rock climber and master educator with a vibrant personality. Whether at the crag or leading students through the wilderness, Meg’s love for nature and passion for mentorship were contagious. Her impact on her students and colleagues inspired many to embrace the outdoors with the same joyful enthusiasm. The scholarship is named after one of Meg’s favorite alpine flowers, the Shooting Star.
“In addition to her passion for adventure, one of Meg’s greatest joys was introducing youth to the limitless opportunities for learning that the outdoor world has to offer. She believed in teaching resilience through challenge and exploration,” says Jennifer O’Neill, Meg’s sister. “The O’Neill family is honored to join Steve and Susan Chamberlin, in partnership with OBCA, in the creation of the Meg O’Neill Shooting Star Scholarship to carry forward Meg’s legacy of mentorship and inspiration.”
The Meg O’Neill Shooting Star Scholarship recipients will experience a day on Outward Bound California’s San Francisco Ropes Challenge Course before continuing with a mountain backpacking and rock climbing expedition led by Outward Bound California Instructors.
OBCA’s scholarship partner is Pittsburg High School, a partnership designed to ensure access to the outdoors for communities traditionally underrepresented in outdoor education.
To honor Meg’s life and ensure the sustainability of the scholarship, donations to the Meg O’Neill Shooting Star Scholarship Fund are being matched, doubling the impact of every gift. For more information and to donate, visit obca.org/meg.
Contact Information
Chelsea Knoren, [email protected]
Marketing and Communications Manager, Outward Bound California
About Outward Bound California
Outward Bound California is a nonprofit educational organization that inspires character development, leadership, and service in people of all ages through challenging wilderness expeditions. With a focus on equity and inclusion, OBCA works to provide life-changing experiences for underserved communities.
