Former Student Who Killed Friends to Speak at Sam

Mark Sterner

Mark Sterner's life changed drastically when three of his best friends and fraternity brothers were killed in a drinking and driving car crash during spring break. Mark was at the wheel of the car, intoxicated.

Sterner, who will speak at Sam Houston State University Nov. 16, ended up with three felony manslaughter convictions and spent three years in a Florida prison. He was scheduled to be the first in his family to graduate from college. Instead, he was the first member of his family to go to prison.

During that spring break week Sterner and his friends each took a turn as the designated driver. On their final night, they fatefully decided that the "least drunk" among them would drive. Although Sterner was less drunk than his friends, he was still impaired, and was held responsible for the accident and the deaths of his friends.

"Would my friends be married now?" Sterner wonders. "Would they have kids? I don't know. I'll wonder 'what if' for the rest of my life."

He doesn't want others to have to ask themselves the same questions, so Sterner shares his message with high school and college students across the country. To date, he has spoken to nearly a million students.

Many have not heard Sterner's story. He has received requests to appear on Oprah, Montel, Geraldo, 20/20 and 48 Hours. He has denied these requests for two reasons.

First, he feels his presentation is more powerful in person. Second, out of consideration for his friends' families, Sterner does not want national media attention that might cause them to have to relive the tragedy.

The families of Sterner's friends have encouraged his efforts to prevent impaired driving, and supported his reduced prison sentence so he could share his story.

Sterner shows a video the students made during their trip. Images of laughing college kids driving from one bar to the next, downing shots of alcohol and dancing are followed by still photos of the car after the crash.

"The impact is incredible on students who quickly realize the dangers of their own drinking and driving decisions," said Michelle Lovering of the Student Health Center, who is coordinating the visit.

Sterner's presentation is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 16 in the LSC Theater, The event is open and free to students, faculty, and staff, as well as community members.

Sterner's appearance is sponsored by the Student Health Center, the Office of Student Activities, the Interfraternity Council, Recreational Sports, and the Alcohol Abuse Initiative.
For more information, call Lovering at 936.294.4347.

- END -

SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Nov. 9, 2004
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu