Remembering Xyrus Zelaya

Remembering Xyrus Zelaya – A Life of Kindness, Strength, and Endless Potential

Xyrus Lyonel Zelaya was born on December 20, 2004, a firstborn son whose presence radiated warmth, joy, and kindness. From the very start, Xyrus carried a spirit too big to be contained—a gentle giant with an even bigger heart. He was the kind of person who could make a stranger feel like a lifelong friend, the kind of son who made his parents proud every day, and the kind of brother who protected and uplifted those he loved. His laughter filled rooms, his determination set an example, and his kindness left a lasting imprint on every person he met.

At Deltona High School, Xyrus was more than a student—he was a leader, a teammate, and a friend who always put others first. He had dreams as vast as the sky, a love for sports that fueled his competitive spirit, and an unwavering desire to succeed. His goal was clear—to go to college and play football, to make his family proud, to carve out a future filled with purpose. Tragically, that future was stolen far too soon.

On October 31, 2021, at just 16 years old, Xyrus’s journey was cut short by an act of senseless gun violence. He was an innocent victim, taken in a moment that no parent, no sibling, no friend should ever have to endure. He was supposed to walk across the stage with the Class of 2023, to see his dreams unfold before him. Instead, his family—his mother Erica and father Dorian—were left with unimaginable loss.

But grief did not stand alone. In the wake of tragedy, love poured out from every corner of the community. Hundreds gathered at Wes Crile Park to honor Xyrus’s life, releasing balloons into the sky, holding candles in silent remembrance, and standing together in a collective promise: Xyrus would not be forgotten.

From heartbreak came a decision—to turn loss into legacy, to make sure Xyrus’s impact would live on. In May 2022, the Xyrus Zelaya Memorial Scholarship Foundation was created to help students who share his dedication and ambition. This scholarship is not just about financial support; it is about keeping his dreams alive through the success of others.

On May 17, 2022, the very first scholarship was awarded to Aliyah DeGraff-Frias, a student whose drive and character reflected the very spirit that Xyrus embodied. This was just the beginning—one of many lives that will be touched, one of many futures that will be shaped because of the love that continues in his name.

Xyrus was a son, a brother, a friend, and a young man with an unstoppable future. Though his time here was brief, his legacy is everlasting. Every student who receives this scholarship carries a part of him forward, proving that even in loss, hope can rise.

His story is not just one of tragedy, but of resilience, of love, and of a community that refuses to let his light fade.

Through the Xyrus Zelaya Memorial Scholarship, we ensure that his kindness, ambition, and dreams live on—one student at a time.