A heartwarming tribute is being paid this Friday to a respected Army captain from Matteson, Illinois.
Captain Antoine Lewis, a distinguished member of the U.S. Army, tragically lost his life in March 2019 when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed shortly after takeoff.
In his honor, his family has announced the establishment of a memorial scholarship.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
This scholarship stands as a lasting tribute to Captain Lewis, who perished in the plane crash. Today, his family and community proudly reveal a scholarship for local high school students to commemorate his legacy.
The promise of honoring Captain Lewis has been fulfilled, as his family formally presented the scholarship in his memory.
“We’re continuing what we know would’ve been some type of investment,” shared Antoinette Lewis, the captain’s mother.
The community gathered in the captain’s hometown in the south suburbs.
“Captain Louis was raised here in Matteson He dedicated his life to uplift the others through his military service,” Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin said.
Family and friends wore Captain Lewis’ favorite colors to help mark the bittersweet moment. His father, Rodney Lewis, says he still struggles with the loss.
“My son, he was a meticulous dresser,” Rodney Lewis said. “He would dress in a black suit with red inside.”
The 39-year old decorated military officer was among 157 passengers who died in March of 2019 when the Boeing 737 Max 8 flight he was on crashed shortly after taking off from Ethiopia while enroute to Kenya. Relatives say he in Africa to help establish an international commerce program for young men of color.
The family filed a lawsuit against the jet maker and settled out of court before the trial was to begin.
“He wanted to build something that was going to leave family with a huge legacy to be able to bless others,” Captain Lewis’ sister Antoinette Lewis said.
Established through the Ykrystine Foundation created by his widow, the Captain Antoine Lewis Scholarship will award $2,500 of support to an eligible African-American male college freshmen who plans to attend a Historically Black College or University.
Ryan Boston, 18, could apply and is a possible award recipient.
“I feel like it’s an amazing opportunity because college is expensive, and my college is covering the full price for tuition,” Boston said.
Community members say the scholarship will not only represent excellence, resilience and the sense of purpose Antoine exhibited, but also his lifelong belief that true success extends well beyond oneself.
“I think that a tragic situation has been turned to something so beautiful,” Kamilah Furqaan said.
The family is wasting no time celebrating the captain’s legacy. They plan on awarding a scholarship in July.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
