Members of the UCA community came together April 20 at Forever a Bear to reflect on and pay their respects to recently deceased loved ones.

Vice President of Student Affairs, Robin Williamson, organized the event held in the Ida Waldran Auditorium; this is the second-annual memorial.

“It’s really just our way to come together as a community and just pay our respects to those forever Bears that left marks on us in many different ways,” Williamson said. 

Williamson said that for each deceased person, UCA invited a family member or friend to the memorial service.

“It means so much to us, but also to the families to just honor and pay our respects,” Williamson said.

Alumnus Zachary Lunk came to the memorial to honor his father Steven Lunk, who was part of the Torreyson Library staff. 

“In the library, they used to have a room called The Night Owl, and there was only one specific area of the library that was open 24/7,” Lunk said. “So, he was actually the first person ever to work at the Night Owl and Night Owl Supervisor is what I think of my dad as.”

Lunk said his father died of cancer, which inspired him to go back to school to get another degree.

“I’m going back to school for dietetics to specialize in preventing cancer,” he said.

Lunk said that the memorial event made him feel less alone.

“When you lose someone it’s such a personal thing. But going into something like this, you feel more like a part of the community,” Lunk said. “You’re not the only one that’s lost somebody.”

The names of students, faculty and staff that died in the past year were read aloud. 

Faculty Senate President Kristin Dooley read the names of deceased faculty members Betty Christiansen, Olin Artie Jones, Jesse Rancifer, Kenneth Freiley, Robert Jones Jr., Sarah Robinson, Sondra Gordy, Sarah McAuley, Mark Spitzer and Stacy Petty.

Staff Senate President Carlos Herrera read the names of deceased staff members John Baker, Steven Lunk, Beryline Temples, John Hurley, Robert Rutledge, Casper Zimmerebner, Norma Kelley and Donald Strom.

Student Government Association President Courtney Clawson read the names of deceased students Jayani Jordan and Matthew Mashburn.

Dean of Students Kelly Owens recited “Remember Me,” a poem by Margaret Mead. 

Provost Patricia Poulter and Student Success Coordinator Marvin Williams sang the alma mater.

A moment of silence was held to honor the forever Bears. Then, the Old Main bell was tolled three times for the faculty, staff and students.

Williamson encouraged family and friends to grab a white rose from the floral arrangements in the auditorium; she also invited them to take extra reflection time in the Ferguson Chapel or in the Forever a Bear Memorial Garden outside the chapel.

“Those gardens are a space to commemorate forever Bears while serving as a reminder of how light comes before, nourishes the environment and creates a space for other beautiful things to take root and grow,” Williamson said. “Our forever Bears have shared with us their talents, their skills and their gifts with us. Their contributions have nurtured our campus in many ways.”

UCA President Houston Davis said the event allows for memories and healing.

“I think it is respectful of their memories and a great way of being able to speak to the loss that our community had, but also an opportunity for healing,” Davis said.

Davis said that UCA will hold this event on the third Thursday of every April for years to come.

“We wanted to just go ahead and make certain that we’ve declared that so we don’t have a program over this and to make sure that all departments and student groups are available to come,” Davis said.