Scholarship Honoring Montco Woman Shot, Killed Raises $86,000

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — A scholarship fund that has been created to honor the life and legacy of a young Montgomery County scientist has already raised more than $86,000 through a GoFundMe campaign.

The Alyssa Rose Wiest STEM Legacy Scholarship aims to empower young women walking in the footsteps of the local microbiologist, who was shot and killed earlier this month outside her West Conshohocken home. Police have arrested her boyfriend, Michael Dutkiewitcz, 26, of Warminster, and charged him with her murder.

Related: Young Microbiologist Killed In Montco Shooting Was 'Shining Light'

The GoFundMe had received 933 donations as of Tuesday morning, with donations coming in from the countless lives touched by Wiest.

Her family said that they hope the scholarship "honors her life and passions" by helping other young women pursue a career in STEM fields. The fund will support biology and STEM education majors, they said.

"She had an insatiable curiosity for the world and a deep love for traveling, always chasing the beauty in life’s big and small moments," her family wrote. "Whether she was listening to her favorite songs, creating something breathtaking with her paintbrush, or simply being present with loved ones, Alyssa found joy and purpose in every day. Her artistic gifts and thoughtful nature reflected the depth of her inner world, and her organizational talents were matched only by her grace and humility."

A 2018 graduate of Pennride High School, Wiest went on to earn a bachelor's degree in biological science and cellular and molecular science from the University of Delaware in 2022. She was working as a microbiologist at Glaxo Smith Kline at the time of her death.