University Fast Links Academic Affairs Academic Calendar Academic Community Engagement (ACE) Academic Planning and Assessment Accepted Students Admissions (Undergraduate) Admissions (Graduate) Admission Requirements Analytical Laboratory Advising (Medical/Dental Related) Advising (SAM Center) Agricultural Sciences and Engineering Technology Alumni Association Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative Army ROTC - Military Science Athletics Banner Banking Bearkat Camp Bearkat Express Payment Bearkat Marching Band Bearkat OneCard Bearkat Transfer Scholarship Blackboard Blinn College Transfers Bookstore Books & Supplies Budget Office Bursar's Office Business Administration Calendars Campus Map Career Services Catalogs Class Schedule Computer Account Creation Computer Labs Continuing Education Controller's Office Correspondence Course Division Counseling Center Criminal Justice Current Students Dean of Students' Office Departments Department of Dance Dining Services Directory Education Educator Preparation Services Emergency Management Employment Opportunities English Language Institute Enrollment Management Environmental, Health and Safety Office Exchange Mail Facilites Management Facilities Space Management Faculty Senate Faculty/Staff Directory Final Exam Schedule Finance and Operations Financial Aid Fine Arts and Mass Communication First-Year Experience General Information Graduate Studies Great Names Health Sciences Honors College Homecoming Human Resources Humanities and Social Sciences IT@Sam IT@Sam Service Desk Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) Institutional Effectiveness Internal Grant Program Institutional Review Board (IRB) International Programs Joint Admission Students KatFacts Library (NGL) Lone Star College Transfers Lowman Student Center Map - Campus Marketing & Communications Math CAMP Medical & Allied Health Programs McNair Program Military Science Mobile Go Center Music Music Choir News Nursing Office of Business Services Office of the President Online Information Request Organization Chart Orientation - New Student PACE Parent Relations Office Parking Payroll Office Procurement and Business Services Procurement Opportunities Project Connect Property Prospective Students Public Safety Quality Enhancement Plan Reading Center Recreational Sports Registration Registrar's Office Research and Sponsored Programs Residence Life Risk Management Sam Shuttle SACS Reaffirmation Sam Houston Memorial Museum SamMenu (Download) SamWeb Sciences Services for Students with Disabilities Schedule of Classes Scholarships SHSU Marketplace Spirit Programs Staff Council Student Activities Student Government Association Student Health Center Student Legal Services Student Money Management Center Student Services Student Services Calendar Summer Camps Technology Tutorials Testing Center Theatre and Dance Today@Sam Tour the University Transcripts Transfer Equivalency Guide Transfer Students TRIES University Advancement University Center University Hotel University Park - Northwest Houston Campus University Police Department Veterans Visitor & Alumni Center The Woodlands Center Writing Center

 

Raven's Call To Honor Fallen Bearkats

April 6, 2012
SHSU Media Contact: Meredith Mohr

 

In remembrance of students, faculty and alumni, the Orange Keys service organization will dedicate a new monument in front of the Bell Tower that honors the lives of fallen Bearkats for the inaugural Raven’s Call memorial service.

The ceremony will take place on April 20, at 11 a.m. at the Bell Tower in Bearkat Plaza. There will be three bell tolls, representing students, faculty/staff, and alumni, and President Dana Gibson will speak to the families of those lost. In addition, the Sam Houston State University chorale will sing the Alma Mater and several other organizations on campus will be present.

The idea for the ceremony came from a parent whose child, a former SHSU student, died. Knowing this would be a great tradition to start for the university, the Office of the Dean of Students researched and planned for the first Raven’s Call.

This year, six students and 29 faculty and staff members who have died over the last two years will be remembered. In addition, the Orange Keys will sell balloons with messages inside as a fundraiser. These balloons will be released at the end of the ceremony.

"This promises to be the beginning of a very special tradition for us at Sam," said John Yarabeck, dean of students. "Raven's Call will offer the opportunity for all of the university’s constituents to come together in unity to recognize the contributions of those Bearkats who are no longer with us and celebrate the ways each of them touched our lives."

Austin Pearce, Orange Keys ambassador, said that he is glad that SHSU is creating this tradition to break the mold of traditional memorial services.

“Memorial services can often be somewhat depressing, so it is integral for the university to begin a program that honors the lives of fallen Bearkats with a celebration of their service to the university and to their loved ones,” Pearce said.

“It is an honor to be a part of creating such a tradition here at Sam Houston,” Pearce said. “I think it says a lot for Sam, as the Bearkat community can gather to recognize fallen Bearkats.

Chelsea Smith, parent relations coordinator for the Dean of Students’ Office and sponsor for the Orange Keys, emphasized the meaning behind Raven’s Call.

“I think it’s amazing,” Smith said. “I have gotten to work with the Orange Keys from the very beginning, planning this from the ground up, and each step reflects the community at Sam Houston. The people we are honoring have taught our students and attended classes with them. People come into our lives for a reason. This ceremony is a way to remember that.”

There will also be an art exhibit in the Lowman Student Center Gallery where visitors can write notes and share memories of those honored at the ceremony. It will be displayed April 16-20.

For more information, contact Smith at 936.294.1785 or at cxs027@shsu.edu.

 

 

- END -

 

 

This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Associate Director: Julia May
Manager: Jennifer Gauntt
Located in the 115 Administration Building
Telephone: 936.294.1836; Fax: 936.294.1834

Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.