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| Josh Brown | Chief Photographer |
| Junior Maggie Gulick of Raleigh mourns the
loss of Patrick G. Cash. |
During the first few weeks of this semester students
will be given several opportunities to remember the five students
who passed away this summer.
A quote from Rita Mae Brown is engraved on a memorial table reads,
“I still miss those I loved who are no longer with me, but
I find I am grateful for having loved them. The gratitude has finally
conquered the loss,”
The memorial table is set up on the first floor of Plemmons Student
Union and will be there through Labor Day.
The Peaks Leadership Team gave the memorial table to the Appalachian
State University in 2001, said Chris L. Grubb, junior construction
major and third year employee of Plemmons Student Union.
Each memorial includes flowers, a picture of the deceased student,
and a book for other students and staff to sign.
“We provide an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff
to come and write comments which we will, when we return the pictures
of the students, send to their parents,” Dean of Students Susie
L. Greene said.
The Department of Student Development will also hold a memorial
service on Family Day, Sept. 20, in the B.B. Dougherty Administration
Building.
A board on the first floor of Plemmons Student Union lists the names
of students who have passed away since 1991.
“These are students from the past 15 years or so and it’s
amazing that parents come back,” Greene said. “It’s
also a way to let the family and friends know their connection to
Appalachian is still strong.”
Before each service, Greene contacts all the parents and allows
them to either submit something to be read aloud or speak when they
attend the memorial service.
As Greene reads each name aloud in alphabetical order, parents may
stand and take a minute to speak about their child.
The board and memorial service are traditions began by Barbara Daye,
the former Dean of Students.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea, and I’m honored to
follow in her tradition,” Greene said.
The list of those to be remembered includes four students and one
graduate.
Nathan E. Raymer, an Appalachian graduate, died June 9 in a rafting
accident.
“We are moving on as best we can,” said Jimmy Seagle,
a friend of Raymer’s.
Jessica Ruth Earley, a senior public relations major, died May 23
of health complications. Earley was a member of the marching band
and Sigma Alpha Iota.
“The band as a whole hasn’t talked about it yet, but we
will be doing something special for the first football game,”
Wendi A. Barber, friend and fellow band member said.
Matthew E. Roseman, the youngest of the five students, died July
14 in a car accident. Roseman was a rising sophomore.
Patrick G. Cash, a senior English Major, died in his apartment in
late May. Cash was involved in the Student Government Association.
“We are planning to do something special for Patrick, including
starting a scholarship,” SGA President Rachel A. Johnson said.
Alisha Dawn Garner, a senior criminal justice
major, died the weekend of May 17 and 18 in a car accident.
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