Thirty University of Georgia students, faculty and staff members who have died since April 2021 will be honored at the university’s annual candlelight memorial service on May 3 at 7 p.m. on the steps of the UGA Chapel.
President Jere W. Morehead will lead the service, called “Georgia Remembers … a Candlelight Memorial.” Names of each of the 14 students and 16 faculty and staff members will be read aloud, followed by a toll of the Chapel bell and the lighting of a candle.
Names will be read by Barbara Biesecker, chair of the University Council Executive Committee; Savannah Hembree, president of the UGA Staff Council; and Bryson Henriott, president of the Student Government Association. Members of the Arch Society will light candles as each name is read.
Members of the university community and the public are invited to attend. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside the Chapel.
Students whose names will be read, along with their hometowns and the areas of study they were pursuing, are:
- Davis Bergsagel, a first-year law student from Roswell majoring in law
- Natalie Clark, a fourth-year student from Dunwoody majoring in journalism
- Sutherlan Cope, a third-year student from Mount Airy majoring in computer science
- Sarah DelBene, a doctoral student from Cookeville, Tennessee, majoring in music
- Shawn Kuhn, a fourth-year student from Perry majoring in exercise and sport science
- Jacob Larrazabal, a third-year student from Buford majoring in intended management
- Kelli McGrail, a master’s student from Kennesaw majoring in social studies education
- Angel Pittman, a doctoral student from Mooresville, North Carolina, majoring in neuroscience
- Ben Shellhaas, a fourth-year student from Albany majoring in forestry
- Camille Shelnutt, a third-year student from Athens majoring in biology and psychology
- Anand Sivakumar, a second-year student from Cumming majoring in intended finance and intended computer science
- Conner Strickland, a third-year student from White Plains majoring in risk management and insurance
- Wanda Wilcox, a doctoral student from Colbert majoring in learning, leadership, and organization development
- Ariana Zarse, a third-year student from Austin, Texas, majoring in marketing and political science
Faculty and staff whose names will be read, along with the positions they held, are:
- Lauren Adamson, senior research scientist, Owens Institute for Behavioral Research
- Jon Allgood, electrical shop manager, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Griffin campus
- Valerie Boyd, associate professor, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication – Department of Journalism
- Randy Brown, cook I, Auxiliary Services – Dining Services
- Gary Coles, building services worker I, Facilities Management Division
- Donald Eberlin, bus operator, Auxiliary Services – Transit
- Delphine Evans, cook II, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
- Noel Fallows, associate provost, Office of Global Engagement
- Pingsheng Ji, professor, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences – Department of Plant Pathology
- Cindy LaHue, business manager I, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences – Tifton campus
- Harry Mattox, building services worker II, Facilities Management Division
- David Ragogna, groundskeeper II, Facilities Management Division
- Enoch Rodriguez, bus operator, Auxiliary Services – Transit
- Darryl Smith, food service worker II, Rock Eagle 4-H Center
- Douglas Stinnett, academic advisor II, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Denyce Wilson, computer operations supervisor, EITS – Data Center Operations
The candlelight memorial service is coordinated by Student Care and Outreach, a department within UGA Student Affairs.