Student Memorials

Student Memorials

A memorial tree planted in honor of Jack Stout, a Spartan lost in 2018. The tree is surrounded by a heart-shaped border made of red bricks, with small statues and solar lights placed around its base. The area is in a grassy space near a sidewalk, with a white chair partially visible on the side.
Jack Stout (2021)

We honor all Spartans and remember those we have lost while pursuing their education. 

See the locations and view the memorials placed each year in their honor.

 

 

 

 

Resources for Families

Kory M. Ernster Tree
Kory M. Ernster Tree (2022)

A Few Tips For the Grieving: 

  1. Be aware and remember that grief impacts ALL areas of life. It’s normal to experience changes in the following areas: 
    • Physical- appetite, energy levels, sleep, headaches, tightness in chest, etc. 
    • Mental- forgetfulness, poor concentration, low motivation, memory problems, etc. 
    • Emotional- anxiety, mood swings, crying, irritability, hopelessness, depression, etc. 
    • Relational- loneliness, isolation, fewer contacts, lack of connectedness, etc. 
    • Spiritual- emptiness, loss of faith, doubt, loss of meaning/ direction, etc. 
  2. Grief is a normal reaction and is different for each person. Try not to judge your grief.  Grief is a unique process, and you are the best judge of what is right for you. Try not to impose artificial standards of how you ‘should’ be feeling, or how long your grief should last or how it should look. 
  3. Consider joining a support group. Being with others who “get it” can be immensely helpful. 
  4. Remember self- care. Grief is exhausting and you are susceptible to illness while grieving. Remember to eat, drink plenty of fluids and try and get rest when you can. 
  5. Many people use the words to grieve and to mourn interchangeably. However, they don’t have the same meanings and understanding the differences and the importance of doing both can be helpful. Grief is all the internal thoughts and feelings we have when someone we love dies. Mourning is when you take the grief you have on the inside and express it outside yourself. Talking about the person who died, crying, expressing thoughts and feelings through art, music, journaling, and celebrating special anniversary dates that held meaning for the person who died are just a few examples of mourning. 
  6. Remember your grief is unique and forever changing. Try and tell people what you might need when they ask how they can help. Try not to isolate yourself from others for too long even when it takes extra effort to stay connected. 
  7. Don’t try and run from your grief by using alcohol or drugs, working all the time, or engaging in other strategies to avoid the pain of grief. Unfortunately, there are no short cuts through grief. Being with the grief and allowing all the feelings to show up is the most helpful way through the pain of grief. Let your feelings out by talking, writing in a journal, through physical activity or in some other way that is meaningful to you. 
  8. Find meaningful ways to remember and commemorate the person who died. 
  9. Grief can feel scary and destabilizing. Don’t be afraid of your grief. Befriend it. 
  10. “Grief I’ve learned is just love. It’s all the love you want to give but cannot. All that unspent love gathers in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with nowhere to go.”
Daniel Renzulli Tree
Daniel Renzulli Tree (2018)

Bereavement

Suicide Prevention

Grief and the Holidays