During a 3 p.m. ceremony in the Student Union Pegasus Ballroom, 19 students who lost their lives in the past year were honored at the Eternal Knights memorial service. The annual event is in its 19th year and is an occasion for the UCF community, family and friends to remember the lives of those lost.
The students who were honored were:
Abigail Elizabeth Rosemeyer; College of Health Professions and Sciences, Masters of social work
Branden Allen Aebersold; College of Sciences, Actuarial science
Brooke Michele Campanile; College of Community Innovation and Education, Counselor education
Dennis C. Holland; Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Hospitality and tourism management
Erin G. Connell; College of Arts and Humanities, Religion and cultural studies
Gianfranco Giuseppe Apa; College of Business Administration, Accounting
Hailey Anne Hinson; College of Arts and Humanities, English language arts education
Jaclyn June Austin; College of Science, Psychology
Javish Rodriguez-Rivera; College of Engineering and Computer Science, Transportation engineering
Jeanelie Francois; College of Engineering and Computer Science, Information technology
Jeff Mentor; College of Business Administration, Accounting
Kate Lynn Marie Sullivan; College of Health Professions and Sciences, Pre-clinical health sciences
Michael John McDoniels Jr.; College of Undergraduate Studies, Interdisciplinary studies
Reuel E. Buchanan; College of Community Innovation and Education, Criminal justice
Richard Conner McPeak; College of Sciences, Psychology
Samuel Day Shaw; Rosen College of Hospitality Management; Entertainment management
Seth Anthony Beyrooti; College of Business Administration, Marketing
Thomas Edward Mundy; College of Community Innovation and Education, Health informatics and information management
William Weiler; College of Arts and Humanities, Film
Keyera Lyn, Miss UCF, led the beginning of the ceremony with a 38-second moment of silence (two seconds for each student being honored.) Vice President for Student Enrollment and Services Maribeth Ehasz gave an official welcome shortly before Interim President Thad Seymour Jr. provided opening remarks. The memorial also included poetry readings of “I Do Not Think My Song Will End” and “We Will Remember” by Lyn and Malachi Mullings, Mr. UCF and musical performances.
“The students we are remembering today were on their way to reaching their academic goals, and we are honored that they chose UCF for their journey,” says Provost Elizabeth A. Dooley before introducing the eulogist. “Each student contributed to our Knights family, and his or her academic work and impact will live on in our faculty, staff and fellow students.”
Carolyn Walker-Hopp, a retired faculty member from the College of Community Innovation and Education, gave eulogies for each student. As each individual’s name was said, members from the President’s Leadership Council placed a white rose in individual vases to honor them.
