Virginia Tech officials said Tuesday they have distributed more than $8.5 million in donations to aid victims of the mass killings on campus in April.

Families of the 32 people killed by student gunman Seung-Hui Cho were eligible for cash payments or a combination of funds and endowed scholarships in the victims' names.

Funds also were distributed to more than two dozen who were injured in the classroom building when Cho killed 30 people as well as himself April 16. Payments also were made to people who were uninjured but were in the classrooms during the shooting rampage.

University President Charles Steger said a total of 21,000 donations were received after the shootings.

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"Spontaneously, Americans and people from all over the world began sending us contributions," he said.

Everyone eligible to receive payments and benefits - a total of 79 - applied to do so.

Families of those killed are eligible for $208,000 in cash or a combination of funds and endowed scholarships in the victims' names.

The five most severely injured received $104,000 plus free tuition at Tech. Eight less severely injured were due $46,000 plus free tuition. The 34 other victims, including some who were in the four classrooms where the shootings occurred, received either $11,500 or free tuition.

"We make these distributions knowing there's only so much they can do," Steger said. "We can't bring back these young people."

The money came from private donations made to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, which was set up immediately after the killings. It will accept donations through the end of the year.

About $860,000 of the donations was designated to honor specific victims.