MU Remembers honors students’ lives

The ceremony included 11 students who died in the last year.

By Jared Grafman

Published April 9, 2010

MU flags flew at half-staff, “Old Missouri” rang from the bells of the Reynolds Alumni Center at 5 p.m. and Memorial Union’s tower remained dark through the night Friday in remembrance of MU students who died within the last year.

The events were part of MU Remembers, the university’s annual memorial service for MU students who have died, a tradition since 2002.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs presided over a memorial service Friday in Stotler Lounge.

The lounge filled with people during the service, old and young, in T-shirts and jeans or suits and ties, to remember the 11 students who died in the last year.

“The worst part of my job is finding out a student’s potential has been extinguished due to untimely death,” she said in her speech. “Even though that person is no longer with us, their hopes and dreams will live on through family and friends.”

Students' names also have been etched onto a plaque in Memorial Union, and books have been donated to Ellis Library with nameplates honoring each student, Scroggs said

The 11 students remembered Friday included undergraduate students Matthew Acra, William Cuva, Thomas Easton, Shaina Finch-Percy, Tracy Fisher, Garrick Holmquest, Karen Kahler and Ryland Ort and graduate students Scott Davey, Kirk Rankin and Amanda Sanders.

Missouri Students Association President Tim Noce and Graduate Professional Council President Sarah Symonds gave brief biographies of the deceased students.

Chancellor Brady Deaton also spoke during the service and said MU is a community where students have opportunities to get to know each other in a more personal way.

“As we on campus work, study and grow together, our lives are continuously touched and enriched by people who make up this learning community,” Deaton said.

Memorial Union’s tower was constructed to honor MU students who gave their lives for their country, Deaton said.

“This evening, the Memorial Union tower will be darkened, and tomorrow, the sun will shine on the quad, and the tower will be lighted once again,” he said.

Eric Wilson, MU graduate and minister of Fairview Road Church of Christ, spoke, and senior Jaqui Rogers performed two songs during the ceremony, including “Amazing Grace.”

The university’s alma mater, “Old Missouri,” was played to conclude the ceremony.

Sophomore Lori Halpern attended the ceremony to remember Tracy Fisher, a freshman journalism student who died in October.

“I thought it was good because it didn’t bring back all the emotions of everyone as intensely as I thought it would, but it allowed us a chance to remember," Halpern said.

Deaton said though MU Remembers is a day of recognition for students who have died, their lives will be remembered and celebrated long after Saturday arrives.

“Today, we mourn the loss of those wonderful students who have departed this life, but more importantly we celebrate their life and the contributions they have made,” Deaton said. “The greatest respect you can pay to them today is to recognize that life may be shorter than you wish it to be, and that we must value each and every person that crosses our path.”