Students Respond to VTech Tragedy

April 18, 2007

SALT LAKE CITY (April 18, 2007) – In response to the unspeakable tragedy this week at Virginia Tech, a group of Westminster College students have organized a fundraising campaign for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. The funds will be used for grief counseling, memorials, communication expenses, comfort expenses, and other incidental needs at Virginia Tech.

The students have worked with Westminster faculty and staff to place donation boxes in the offices of each of Westminster’s four schools: Education, Arts & Sciences, Business, and Nursing. Anyone wishing to donate to the fund may stop by one of the school offices or in the Office of Student Life and make a contribution.

In addition, the students are sponsoring a bake sale on Monday, April 23, 2007 in the Shaw Student Center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. where those wishing to contribute can purchase baked items that have been donated by local businesses. The local businesses include Great Harvest (9th and 9th), Great Harvest (Holladay), Carol's Bakery, Marie Callendar's (Holladay), and Paradise Cafe. Students will also be passing out Virginia Tech support ribbons Monday-Thursday next week.

Westminster College, founded in 1875, is a private, comprehensive liberal arts college dedicated to students and their learning. The college prepares its students for success through a strong foundation of liberal education combined with cutting-edge professional programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Located where the Rocky Mountains meet the city of Salt Lake, Westminster blends classroom learning with experiences presented by its unique location to help students develop skills and attributes critical for success in a rapidly changing world. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Westminster in the top tier of colleges and universities in the West, and Kaplan/Newsweek’s America’s Hottest Colleges named Westminster as one of the “367 Most Interesting Schools” in the country. For more information, visit http://www.westminstercollege.edu/.