PHOTO | Frankie Sanchez
Every year, thousands of students join the Buff Family. Student Memorial Services honors the loss of members of this family.
In the past year, three enrolled students passed away. The Student Memorial Service will take place Friday, April 23 at 2 p.m. at Hill Chapel. The service will be followed by a reception in the Hazel Kelley Room of the JBK. It’s requested that attendees dress in business casual attire.The memorial service and reception will honor the lives of James Coffee, Stratton Landess and Morgan Vennemana.
“I feel it is important to remember the students that were lost because they contributed to the buff family and what we stand for at WT,” Miranda Knippers, a student responsible for much of the planning of the event, said.
The families of the students have been invited to join students, faculty and staff at the memorial.
“It’s important that we invite the families because it shows that WT cares about its students and that they are a part of the buff family,” Student Body Vice President Tim Vela said.
Scholarships will be awarded to current students in honor of the deceased students.
“[Scholarships are important because they] give recognition to the people that passed away,” Vela said.
The service is being held not only in memorium of the lost students, but also in support of their families.
“They lost a child at a very young age,” Knippers said. “This is the time when you decide what your future will hold. You make decisions in your college career.”
Student Government is hosting the event to remember all the choices these students never got to make.
“I feel like it is important for students to attend Student Memorial Service because what if it was them?” Knippers said. “Wouldn’t they want their buff family to remember them?”