Fall 2025 Memorial Project
In this space, I—along with my Fall 2025 English C1001 (formerly English 202) students—present our memorial project, a collection of pictures, stones, names, and stories.
I met Bill Haddan on the side of Highway 160 in southern Colorado in the summer of 2010. I was biking my way across the country and he and his son were driving back to their home in eastern Kansas. We got to talking, and by the end of the conversation Bill had offered to put me up when I hit his neck of the woods, and I—utterly taken by Bill’s open, friendly face and manner—accepted. Ten days later I stayed with Bill and his family, he took me flying in a (very) small plane, and we became fast friends. But just ten years later, Bill was tragically taken from this world way too soon. I think of him often, and when I do, I think of the two of us up in that plane of his, and I marvel at the miracle that chance encounters can hold for us if we just pay attention.
—Rocco Versaci
This memorial is for all the people who have died due to the cartel violence. There have been hundreds of thousands of people in Mexico and the United States who have been killed, and tens of thousands of those who have been missing because of the cartel. Those who fought against them, in the crossfire of their violence, and those who were trafficked. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives because of them, and millions of people have lost someone to these powerful gangs and live in fear. People who lived everyday life became victims because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. May all these people rest in peace.
—AB Cruz
November 13th through November 19th is Transgender Awareness Week. This week is always followed up by the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th. I make my memorial cairn in the memory of all the trans people who died this year, some due to natural causes & many to violence. These people loved their communities & their families, and I wish to remember what they stood for. What all trans people stand for. They are: Cam Thompson, Kaitoria Bankz, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Eli Stablein, Gabrielle "Cam" Nguyen, Lily-Dawn Harkins, Leah Jo, Jax Gratton, Zara Weinberg, Hope Lyca Youngblood, Luisa Rivera, Linda Becerra Moran, Roy Mora, Apollo Moon, Lady Java, Jay Floris, Megan Jordan Kridli, Onyx Cornish, Blair Sawyer, Emma Slabach, Kamora Woods, Christina Hayes, Karmin Wells, Tahiry Broom, Ra'lasia Wright, Aziza "Z" Barnes, Kelsey Elem, Rick Alastor Newman, Jill Heathers Bouvier, Raven Syed, Deniz Chucker, Bianca "Jiggly Caliente" Castro-Arabejo, Elisa Rae Shupe, Katelyn Rinnetta Benoit, Parker Savarese, Sam Nordquist, Sydney "Syd" Leigh Phillips, Ervianna Johnson, Quanesha "Cocoa" Shantel, Tessa June, Tiara Love "Tori" Jackson, JJ Godbey, Laura Schueler, Meka Shabazz, Aubrey Dameron, Arty Cassidy Beowulf Gibson, Charlotte Fosgate, Sonny Hopkins, Shy'Parius Dupree, Ajani Walden, Kyla Jane Walker, Rosa Machuca, Lia Smith, Phoenix Cassetta, Kasi Rhea, Norah Horwitz, Michele Kaemmerer, Dream Johnson, Amyri Dior
—Sara Younessian
Mason was a bright, joyful spirit who was taken from our world far too early. He had a way of lighting up every room he walked into, bringing laughter, warmth, and a sense of ease to everyone around him. His curiosity and kindness made him unforgettable, and his presence left a lasting impact on all who were lucky enough to know him. In some cultures, memorials are seen as spirit portals, places where loved ones can return to visit the worlds they did not get to fully experience. In that spirit, this memorial offers Mason the chance to walk through the college halls he never had the chance to see, taken so young by appendicitis. Though his time here was far too short, the love he shared and the memories he created will continue to shine in our hearts forever.
—Paul Witt
This cairn is dedicated to one of my very best friends, Jacob Ambriz, who passed away on January 21st of 2024 at the age of 19. On that day, Jake was on his way over to my house to hang out with our group of friends as we normally did on Sunday afternoons. That was until my brother told me to come outside and I saw on the road leading up to our house a massive pillar of smoke. I couldn’t see the wreck, but I knew it was bad. Minutes later my brother heard from one of our other friends who was driving right behind Jake that he had died. After that day the world grew surreal and just getting through the day seemed an insurmountable task, but I know that Jake would have wanted me to keep going, and to enjoy life. I will always remember him, his contagious laughter and smile that never ceased to brighten anybody's day, and the awe-inspiring love for life, others, and Jesus that he always held in his heart. Though he may no longer be with us physically, he will live forever in the collective memories of the many, many people whose lives he touched, and this memorial is just one more way that I hope to carry on his memory.
—Noah Prouty
This cairn is set in memory of my mom, who left this earth too abruptly and violently when I was twelve. I had a rough childhood and didn’t get to know her as much as I wish but I always admired how hardworking she was and how she always tried to make things special for my brother and me. She would light up a room with her smile alone. She never had it easy but she made it seem like it was. Everyday I get older I see herself in me, and as I outlive her, I try to live my life for her as she wasn’t given enough time.
—Cordasia Baccus
This cairn is dedicated to my late grandma, Felicitas Sandoval, who passed away in 2021, she lived to be 100 years old and passed away a couple months shortly after that. She meant so much to my family and instilled so many values into my father who has passed them on to my brothers and me. She, with my father and aunt, came to the United States when my dad was around 17 years old, she was very disciplined and old school but always meant well and had the purest heart. Growing up she seemed so powerful and knowledgeable even though she was in a wheelchair most of my life, she always had the most peaceful presence. The later years of her life she spent in bed because she was too weak to get in the wheelchair and was getting sores on her body, so she would be in the same room at her house almost every day and all she had was pictures on the wall of my brothers and me. She would be so happy when we would walk in the room and she would get a burst of energy, but it was always so hard to leave that house. When she passed, it was emotionally difficult and I did not know what to feel, but I did feel peace that she was no longer in pain and could finally be free. She was the wisest and most wholehearted person you could ever meet.
—Michael Sandoval
I am memorializing my mother, Somnuk Phommasane, who passed away on August 10, 2020. She was the rock and glue that held me and my whole family together, gracefully embodying everything a woman should be. I did not fully understand her strength before, and my own immaturity kept me from seeing what it truly meant to be a good wife, daughter, sister and mother. She gave me the best advice I have ever received: go back to school and get your education, because no one can ever take that from you. I know in my heart that she has forgiven me for the years I was absent, and now I honor her by moving forward with purpose, love, and resilience. Because of her passing, I have gotten my life together and am building a future with full force. With her watching over me, I know she is proud, as I work every day to become the woman, she always wanted me to be and the strong, dedicated woman she always wanted to be.
—Saengamphay "Melinda" Phommasane
I dedicate this cairn to the journalists who have been killed exposing government corruption and other crimes. My countries of origin, Korea and Mexico, have a long and difficult history of corruption and violence against journalists, but many decided that democracy was a cause worth sacrificing for. Their work has transformed the lives of millions of people, not just in those two countries, and has led to major systemic change and the advancement of human rights around the world.
—Jacob Sohn
Lately I have found conversations cut short and things left unsaid to friends that have passed away. This has been particularly exacerbated by the fentanyl crisis that we now face. So in memory of my friends Nia, Matt, and Jesse, I make this small memorial as a place to come and say what needs to be said. It is placed near the clock tower to remember the times we had and the time that is needed to heal and to hear the chimes on the hour as the day goes on to remember that our time here is short and nothing is promised and in the words of Maya Angelou “This is a wonderful day, I have never seen this one before.. Let this be our conversation now.
—Derek Blevins
My cairn would be dedicated to my late friend Diego Mata. It has been about 5 years since he passed. He died due to chronic alcohol consumption. We knew each other for some time, but then started becoming good friends. He started to slowly help me reach out to people more than usual. His positivity resonated with me. He was intelligent and talented. I still drive with a VW hubcap I got from him, as a good luck token. He was a good friend.
—Elmer Alvarado
The memorial is for my old friend group during my sophomore year of high school. I chose four rocks because there were four of us. They meant a lot to me but one day they chose to stop talking to me and my best friend and we never understood why. So now it’s just the two of us. I’ll always live with the question of if I did anything wrong or if something happened. But I’ll never know. So even though they were some of the best people I know and I still care about them, I just have to let it be because I don’t think it’s worth talking about now.
—Yaretzi Bernardino Recendiz
For this project I chose to memorialize my grandfather. Being someone so personal and close to me, I chose to decorate my stones. The first stone has red, pink, and maroon hearts around it, my grandfather passed away on Valentine’s Day. The second stone is colored green and red representing the Mexican flag, but instead of the eagle in the center I drew a G representing my grandfather’s last name, Gonzalez. No matter how many times my grandfather visited America, Mexico was always his home & since he passed my grandmother moved in with my aunt and Mexico hasn’t been the same without both of my grandparents there. The third stone has a tree with “M & E” in the center for; Manuel & Elvira. The names of my grandparents, he loved my grandmother more than anyone & my family wouldn’t exist without their love. The tree represents my extended family members, my aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings. I also drew orange marigolds around the tree representing the traditional Dia de Muertos, Day of the Dead flower. Tradition is important in my family and celebrating the life of those who have passed is a way of honoring and remembering them, the marigolds represent that. The fourth and final stone has a cross with yellow and blue beams. My grandfather was a man of God before anything else, whenever there was a church service in honor of someone who had passed, he always attended. He wasn’t a very social or talkative man, he hardly attended any festivals the town had, but anytime he always attended church on Sundays. My grandfather’s passing hit hard for my entire family & for me. It was the first time I truly felt loss and grief so he is the first person I think of when I think about grief & I’ll take any opportunity I can to remember him.
—Sam Gonzalez
This memorial is for my grandmother who passed just this last year. She always loved music and it was her dream to sing in a gospel church. I decided to put her memorial in the music building near the choir room so that she will always be near music. I think writing her name there will remind me,as I go to classes, that I will always share my love of music with her.
—Kirra Irvine