To anyone who knew Ian, the twinkle of mischief in his eyes, the delight in his smile, and his completely contagious laugh are unforgettable. He was a persistent fighter from the day he was born, and in his eleven short years, he profoundly touched the lives of anyone who took the time to get to know him.

Ian was a bright, intelligent, happy boy. But before he turned two, irregularities in his development had his family beginning the search for answers. By age three, Ian's life was an extensive, full-time schedule of schools and therapies. At five years old, Ian was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder – Sanfilippo Syndrome. Despite all his hard work combined with tireless efforts from multiple teams of specialists, teachers, friends, and family, this progressive disease eventually robbed him of his ability to move freely, to sleep well, to eat safely, to communicate with others, and prematurely ended his life just six weeks after his eleventh birthday.

As Ian would now be attending college, his family has decided to help others pursue education in his memory. The Ian Aston Brown Memorial Scholarship will help assist students at Utah State University train in a field that will serve those who struggle to communicate.