Remembrance Scholars Archives | Syracuse University Today https://news-test.syr.edu/topic/remembrance-scholars/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:07:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2025/08/cropped-apple-touch-icon-120x120.png Remembrance Scholars Archives | Syracuse University Today https://news-test.syr.edu/topic/remembrance-scholars/ 32 32 Founders of The Alexia at Newhouse Awarded With School’s Highest Medal /2026/04/01/founders-of-the-alexia-at-newhouse-awarded-with-schools-highest-medal/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:07:55 +0000 /?p=335480 Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis received the Newhouse School Medal for Distinguished Service for their dedication to The Alexia, a visual journalism grants program at Newhouse.

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Communications, Law & Policy Founders of The Alexia at Newhouse Awarded With School’s Highest Medal

Dean Mark Lodato (left) presents Peter (center) and Aphrodite Tsairis with the Newhouse School Medal for Distinguished Service during a Newhouse School ceremony. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Founders of The Alexia at Newhouse Awarded With School’s Highest Medal

Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis received the Newhouse School Medal for Distinguished Service for their dedication to The Alexia, a visual journalism grants program at Newhouse.
Genaro Armas April 1, 2026

Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis turned grief into purpose following the death of their daughter Alexia in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

Their commitment is galvanized through an initiative named after their daughter, honoring Alexia’s passion for photography and promoting the power of visual storytelling to shed light on significant issues around the world.

In recognition of the Tsairises’ dedication and generosity that dates back more than three decades, the presented the couple its highest honor, the Newhouse School Medal for Distinguished Service, during a ceremony held March 27 at the school.

It is thought to be the first time that Newhouse had awarded the medal since 1977, when legendary CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite received the award from publisher S.I. Newhouse, for whom the school is named.

“It is fitting and long overdue that we recognize Peter and Aphrodite for their contributions to the mission of the Newhouse School and their extraordinary efforts to promote the power of visual storytelling,”said before awarding the medal.

The ceremony took place during this year’s judging weekend for The Alexia competition. Before an audience that included their family and friends, along with Chancellor Kent Syverud, Chancellor-elect J. Michael Haynie and Provost Lois Agnew, the Tsairises thanked Lodato and highlighted the decades-long collaboration with previous deans and visual communications faculty.

Five people stand together on a stone staircase inside an academic building.
From left: Provost Lois Agnew, Professor of Practice Dr. Ruth Chen, Peter Tsairis, Aphrodite Tsairis and Chancellor Kent Syverud (Photo by Amy Manley)

From Tragedy to Purpose: The Story Behind The Alexia

was a 20-year-old photography major in Newhouse when she was one of 35 killed in the terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, as they were returning home from a semester abroad in London. The victims are honored on campus in a memorial in front of the Hall of Languages.

Now in its 35th year, the initiativehas become an internationally recognized granting organization that supports documentary photographers and filmmakers worldwide. Also, theis a marquee experiential learning opportunity at the University for visual communications students.

“The welcoming support extended from Newhouse to us for these 35 years is the glue that has held us all together, united in one goal—to inspire visual storytellers to go where we cannot, to bring us stories that enlarge our understanding and to give us hope in the future of humanity. Thank you so much,” Aphrodite Tsairis said.

The Tsairises remain close with David Sutherland, professor emeritus of visual communications and the former Alexia Chair. Sutherland taught their daughter in London and worked with the couple to establish The Alexia following the tragedy.

A Legacy of Support for Visual Storytellers Worldwide

Over its history, the foundation has awarded about $1.7 million in grants to 170 student and professional photographers and filmmakers through annual competitions.

A speaker gestures while delivering remarks at a Syracuse University podium.
Bruce Strong, associate professor of visual communications, is The Alexia Endowed Chair. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis “might not realize that they have affected [the lives] of that many students around the world,” Sutherland said. “The ones that they gave awards to obviously ended up with life-changing events—getting scholarships and grants.”

The Alexia also has deep roots with the current Alexia Endowed Chair,, an associate professor of visual communications. who also teaches graphic design and writing in the Newhouse School, is The Alexia’s curator of communications, design and exhibitions.

Aphrodite Tsairis said The Alexia will continue to thrive under the leadership of the Strongs.

“Your story is not the darkness. You refused to stay there,” Bruce Strong told the Tsairises from a podium. “You struck a match. That small act of creating light in a moment of overwhelming darkness became something far greater.”

The Newhouse School Medal for Distinguished Service recognizes friends of the school whose contributions have a lasting impact on students, the Newhouse School’s mission and the wider world.

Peter Tsairis smiles and holds a thumbs up while posing with his wife, Aphrodite, and other family members in the lobby of Newhouse 1. (Photo by Amy Manley)

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A man presents a medal to an older couple at an academic event with Syracuse University/Newhouse School branding in the background
Threads of Kindness: Quilters Serve Syracuse Community /2026/02/23/hendricks-chapel-quilters-impact-central-new-york-community/ Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:26:57 +0000 /?p=333231 By bringing together quilters of all ages and abilities, the Hendricks Chapel Quilters provide warmth and comfort for those in need.

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Syracuse University Impact Threads of Kindness: Quilters Serve Syracuse Community

George Athanas (right) joined the Hendricks Chapel Quilters 21 years ago in search of camaraderie and a way to engage with the community. (Photo by Eliza Shenk ’28)

Threads of Kindness: Quilters Serve Syracuse Community

By bringing together quilters of all ages and abilities, the Hendricks Chapel Quilters provide warmth and comfort for those in need.
John Boccacino Feb. 23, 2026

There’s warmth emanating from the Noble Room in the lower level of Hendricks Chapel every Monday night whenever classes are in session.

Every sewing machine buzzes and hums as the members of the make handmade quilts that will keep vulnerable Central New Yorkers warm during the winter months.

“Those are chaotic nights. Everybody is working on a project that will end up at one of our partner charities,” says quilting enthusiast Judy O’Rourke ’75, G’10. “It’s nice knowing you’re helping someone out, and it’s nice knowing that something I enjoy doing is giving somebody else comfort.”

Three women sit around a table in a cozy room, working at sewing machines on colorful quilts.
Judy O’Rourke (center) is one of the passionate members of the Hendricks Chapel Quilters who share a love of sewing and community. (Photo by Eliza Shenk ’28)

O’Rourke is one of 10-15 active members of the Hendricks Chapel Quilters—consisting of students, staff, faculty and community members—who put their love of sewing to good use weekly to produce beautiful quilts.

The common threads that keep members coming back? A love of quilting, a desire to find connection and a willingness to give back to the community.

“There’s a real camaraderie around this group,” says George Athanas, the associate director for the Center for Learning and Student Success, who first joined the club 21 years ago. “This reminds me of what quilting circles and quilting guilds used to be like, folks coming together to engage with their community, meet new people and learn along the way.”

Helping Vulnerable People Feel Seen and Valued

Quilts are most frequently donated to the local chapter of , which builds beds for children in the community, to chaplains at SUNY Upstate Medical University, who deliver the quilts to terminally ill patients, and to food pantries who partner with on their community outreach efforts.

During last year’s weekly meetings, the Hendricks Chapel Quilters produced 59 quilts that were donated. Each finished product is signed with a tag noting that the quilt was created with love by the Hendricks Chapel Quilters. O’Rourke says nearly 95% of the fabric, sewing machines and other materials used have been donated by generous community members.

A person smiles while posing for a headshot in front of a grey backdrop.
Jennie Prouty

“This reflects what service is all about, investing time and energy to make the world a better place,” Athanas says.

Besides the added source of warmth, Jennie Prouty, InterFaith Works’ community engagement manager, says the recipients are often touched by the kindness and generosity of strangers who make time to create and then donate these intricate quilts.

“These quilts are an opportunity for individuals and families in our communities, who often feel unseen, to know there are people who care deeply about their well-being,” Prouty says. “The element of them being handmade is a level of intentionality that many clients don’t typically receive.”

Made With Love

In the fall, students in Liz Lance’s one-credit honors class, Quilting for Fun and Community, learn how to quilt alongside the Hendricks Chapel Quilters, who provide support and offer advice to the novice quilters.

A person with long brown hair smiles at the camera, wearing a light gray blazer over a black top, accessorized with colorful beaded earrings and a gold ring necklace.
Liz Lance

“This is a unique offering,” says Lance, who started teaching the course in the Fall 2024 semester. “The average age of quilters is older and retired, but here, we have 20-, 21- and 22-year-old college students learning alongside our quilting guild. Spanning that age gap and bringing these people together is the most special part about this because it represents intergenerational learning, which can be hard to find.”

O’Rourke, who started sewing in childhood, picked up quilting in 1998 as the advisor to that year’s cohort of Remembrance Scholars. Those students wanted to make a Remembrance Quilt to honor the 35 Syracuse University students who died in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.

Current Remembrance Scholar Joy Mao ’26 had no prior experience quilting or sewing, so she was nervous when she walked into the Noble Room for her first class last fall.

Those nerves quickly melted away. On the first night, students were introduced to their sewing machine, which they would use throughout the semester. Mao learned about the tools she’d be using—ranging from a needle and thread to a seam ripper and cutters—and became more familiar with her machine as the course progressed.

Starting with four-by-four-inch quilting squares, Mao and her classmates are tasked with identifying the colors and patterns that will tell the story of their quilt. Each square consists of nine patches, and each finished quilt consists of 81 total squares. If time allows, students add borders, known as sashes, as filler between the squares.

Two students hold up handmade patchwork quilts — one with a soft green border and pastel squares, the other with a bold black-and-white animal print border and colorful patches.
Joy Mao (right) holds up the finished quilt she made during the honors class, Quilting for Fun and Community.

During their last class, students stand before their peers and present their quilt, knowing their finished product will provide warmth to someone in need.

A person poses for a headshot while standing outside.
Joy Mao

“You get to make with your hands and give with your hearts, and these quilts are all made with love,” says Mao, who is studying television, radio and film in the and policy studies in the . “It was great knowing we were creating something that would have an impact on and give back to the greater Syracuse community.”

The hold meetings from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday evenings when classes are in session. No previous sewing experience is required, and all materials, as well as access to a sewing machine, are provided during the club’s weekly meetings. For more information about joining or donating fabric or sewing machines, please contact Judy O’Rourke.

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Two people sit across from each other at a dark wooden table, each focused on a sewing machine, working on quilt pieces. Several other quilters are visible in the background of the warmly lit room.
Center for Student Excellence Programs Come Together at 100 Sims Drive /2026/01/13/center-for-student-excellence-programs-come-together-at-100-sims-drive/ Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:08:59 +0000 /?p=331162 Programs, including CLASS, SOURCE, HEOP and Living Learning Communities, are now housed together in one building.

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Center for Student Excellence Programs Come Together at 100 Sims Drive

Programs, including CLASS, SOURCE, HEOP and Living Learning Communities, are now housed together in one building.
Wendy S. Loughlin Jan. 13, 2026

The (CSE), launched last fall, brought together the University’s student support programs into a single administrative structure in order to build synergies and better serve students.

As of last week, those programs are now together in a single physical space as well, at .

“This move truly creates a centralized hub for student success, academic support, engagement and persistence,” Assistant Provost for Academic Programs and CSE Director Tommy Powell says. “It brings together multiple high-impact student support offices with a shared mission: helping students thrive academically, personally and professionally from their first day on campus through graduation.”

CSE serves all undergraduate students, with a focus on student transition and adjustment to college; academic skill-building and coaching; retention and persistence; engagement, belonging and experiential learning; and clear communication and coordination across support services.

CSE comprises multiple programs working closely together:

  • First Year Seminar
  • Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS)
  • Retention and Student Success
  • SOURCE (Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement)
  • Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising
  • Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)
  • McNair Scholars Program
  • Our Time Has Come Scholars
  • Remembrance Scholars
  • STEP (Science and Technology Entry Program) and CSTEP (College Science and Technology Entry Program)
  • Shaw Center for Public and Community Service
  • Living Learning Communities

Student-Athlete Academic Services, located in the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, is also a core part of the CSE.

The building is located at the corner of Sims Drive and College Place, adjacent to Sims Hall. Drop-ins are welcome.

For more information, call 315.443.2005.

labeled campus map highlighting 100 Sims Drive in yellow, surrounded by buildings including Sims Hall, Shaffer Art Building and Bowne Hall

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Honoring Sandy Phillips: A Legacy of Service Lives On /2025/12/18/honoring-sandy-phillips-a-legacy-of-service-lives-on/ Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:04:15 +0000 /?p=330527 The University’s Student Government Association office highlights its connection to former officer and Pan Am 103 victim.

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Honoring Sandy Phillips: A Legacy of Service Lives On

The University’s Student Government Association office highlights its connection to former officer and Pan Am 103 victim.
Kelly Homan Rodoski Dec. 18, 2025

When German Nolivos ’26 became president of the University’s Student Government Association (SGA) in 2024, he noticed something curious in his new email signature: “Sandy Phillips Student Government Association Office.” Like many students before him, Nolivos wondered, “Who was this person, and why was the office named after him?”

That question led Nolivos on a journey that would result in the renovation of the SGA office to honor a young leader whose life was cut tragically short 37 years ago.

Frederick Sandford “Sandy” Phillips was one of 35 Syracuse students who died in the terrorist attack of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988. Nolivos set about furthering Phillips’ legacy as a student leader by highlighting his presence in the office.

Photo of a man with dark hair and smiling
Sandy Phillips

Phillips was not a typical college student. At 27 years old, he had already worked in his father’s Arkansas business for three years before deciding to continue his education at the School of Management (now the Whitman School). After transferring credits from the University of Arkansas, where he had started his college journey, Phillips arrived at Syracuse as a junior with a sharper vision of what he wanted: to widen his horizons through intellectual challenges, travel and participation in student government.

Phillips was a talented musician, athlete and poet—whose Southern charm and infectious personality made him unforgettable. But it was his character that truly set him apart.

“He had this contagious personality,” says John Mandyck ’89, G’92, who served as SGA president when Phillips was operations vice president. “He always had this bright twinkle in his eye, like the world was full of endless possibilities. He was always positive with a can-do spirit.”

Phillips didn’t shy away from campus involvement. He dove in with both feet, becoming a driving force in the SGA. One of his signature accomplishments was leading a campaign to install lighting on the Quad.

“That was Sandy’s project,” Mandyck says. Phillips navigated through different parts of the administration, scheduling meetings and pushing the initiative forward. When the lights finally came on, a small group gathered to celebrate. It epitomized everything Phillips stood for: detail-oriented work focused on the greater good, making campus a safer, more welcoming place for everyone.

“He was always concerned about what other people thought, what other people felt and really conscious of what was the greater good,” Mandyck says.

Ensuring a Legacy Lives on Forever

On Dec. 21, 1988, Phillips was returning home from a semester abroad in London, carrying Christmas gifts and stories to share with his family. He was aboard Pan Am Flight 103 when a terrorist attack brought the plane down over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground. Phillips was among 35 students who spent the fall semester studying in London and Florence through the University’s Division of International Programs Abroad, now Syracuse Abroad.

Wall with a quote from Sandy Phillips and plaques
An inspirational quote from Sandy Phillips is now on the wall in the Student Government Association office in the Schine Student Center.

For decades, Phillips’s memory lived on primarily through scholarships and events. The SGA office bore his name, but beyond a line in an email signature, few current students knew his story.

That changed when Nolivos, a 2025-26 Remembrance Scholar who had spent nearly every day in the office since his freshman year, decided it was time to truly honor Phillips’s legacy. During an office renovation project coinciding with the organization’s name change from Student Association back to Student Government Association, Nolivos saw an opportunity.

“We need to change our name, we need new furniture, we need storage,” German recalls thinking. “This is the perfect opportunity to showcase the history that’s been hiding in drawers.”

Inspiring Future Generations of Leaders

A colorized photograph of Phillips now hangs prominently on the wall, alongside historical plaques tracking SGA leadership through the decades. A quote from Phillips’s own poetry, retrieved from University Archives, is now emblazoned on a wall to inspire students. A letter from President George H.W. Bush, which had sat forgotten in a corner, now has a place of honor. New signage will soon be added to the office’s main door.

“The whole office tells a story now,” says Nolivos. When new members join and ask about the photograph, current leaders can point to Phillips’s image and share his impact.

Nolivos has found his own inspiration in Phillips’ story. He wrote about Phillips in his Remembrance Scholar application, recognizing that the space where he worked every day represented something profound: a 27-year-old student who brought business experience, maturity and genuine care for others to make his campus community better.

“I think he would be proud to see that we have a space like this, especially that it’s named after him,” Nolivos says. “Each year there are students like my team members and me making sure we’re remembering this and that new students know why we are this way.”

Mandyck believes Phillips would be humbled by the recognition, but proud of what the scholarships and Remembrance accomplish: empowering good people to do good things, uniting communities across continents and keeping alive the spirit of service that defined Phillips’s too-brief time at Syracuse.

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Man wearing baseball cap and sunglasses, smiling with mountains in the background.
University to Mark Pan Am Flight 103 Anniversary /2025/12/10/university-to-mark-pan-am-flight-103-anniversary/ Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:50:30 +0000 /?p=330051 The annual service honors the 270 people who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland

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University to Mark Pan Am Flight 103 Anniversary

The annual service honors the 270 people who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Kelly Homan Rodoski Dec. 10, 2025

will host the annual Pan Am Flight 103 memorial service on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2:03 p.m. EST. The service will begin in the chapel’s Noble Room, with attendees then processing to the Place of Remembrance.

The service will honor the 270 people, including Syracuse University study abroad students, who were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb at 2:03 p.m. EST on Dec. 21, 1988, over Lockerbie, Scotland.

Chaplains will offer prayers and reflections.The event will also be offered virtually; is required to receive the YouTube link.

Personal reflections and memories, which can be submitted upon registration, may be included in the ceremony. Closed captioning will be provided.

Requests for additional accommodations can be made by contacting Hendricks Chapel atchapelevents@syr.edu.

This service is offered in partnership with the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars, Hendricks Chapel and the Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement.

Services will also be held on Dec. 21 at the Pan Am 103 memorial cairn at Arlington National Cemetery and in Lockerbie.

The 2025-26 Lockerbie Scholars will also take part in memorial events in Lockerbie on Friday, Dec. 19, including sitting in solidarity for 12 minutes to honor the 11 Lockerbie residents who died in the bombing and 2002-03 Lockerbie Scholar Andrew McClune.

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Red roses lay on top of the Remembrance Wall with snow in the background
Remembrance Scholar Application Open for 2026-27 Cohort /2025/11/20/remembrance-scholar-application-open-for-2026-27-cohort/ Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:40:40 +0000 /?p=329114 The 35 scholars educate the campus community about the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.

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Remembrance Scholar Application Open for 2026-27 Cohort

The 35 scholars educate the campus community about the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.
Kelly Homan Rodoski Nov. 20, 2025

All Syracuse University students are invited to learn more about the . Students planning to graduate in December 2026, May 2027 or summer 2027 are invited to apply now for the 2026-27 cohort.

The application deadline for the 2026-27 Remembrance Scholarship cohort is Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

The Remembrance Scholarship is one of the highest honors a Syracuse University student can receive. Those selected are chosen on the basis of leadership, creativity, thoughtful academic inquiry and community impact, including through service to the military, ROTC, first responder, student government, campus clubs or other community organizations.

The 35 rising seniors chosen are each awarded a $5,000 Remembrance Scholarship, and are charged with helping to educate the campus community about the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.

Scholars are expected to undertake meaningful service and to promote initiatives to combat hatred and extremism.Through education, all 270 lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, especially our 35 students, are remembered and honored. The motto of the Remembrance Scholars is “Look Back, Act Forward.”

Who Can Apply?

Any Syracuse University undergraduate student who is in good academic standing and will graduate in either December 2026, May 2027 or summer 2027 is eligible to apply. Students self-nominate for this scholarship. This award is not tied to financial need.

Information Sessions

Information sessions will be held on the following dates and times:

  • Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in MacNaughton Hall Room 201, Falk College of Sport
  • Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 4 to 5 p.m. on (registration required)

At each session, current Remembrance Scholars will provide an overview of their experience, from the application stage to their participation in Remembrance Week.

To request accommodations for the information sessions, contact Tamara Hamilton at tnhami01@syr.edu.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Questions may be directed to remember@syr.edu.

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A Remembrance Scholar lays a white rose on the Wall of Remembrance
Honoring Remembrance: Students Reflect, Inspire and Act Forward /2025/10/23/honoring-remembrance-students-reflect-inspire-and-act-forward/ Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:07:02 +0000 /?p=327250 To conclude Remembrance Week, the 2025-26 Remembrance Scholars will be honored at the annual Remembrance Scholars Convocation on Friday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

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Honoring Remembrance: Students Reflect, Inspire and Act Forward

To conclude Remembrance Week, the 2025-26 Remembrance Scholars will be honored at the annual Remembrance Scholars Convocation on Friday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.
Kelly Homan Rodoski Oct. 23, 2025

Remembrance Scholar Jacqueline Arbogast ’26, a television, radio and film major in the , grew up knowing about the Pam Am 103 bombing and the effect it had on the University community. Her mom, Michele, was a senior in the Newhouse School at that time and had friends who died in the tragedy.

The bombing, which happened on Dec. 21, 1988, over Lockerbie, Scotland, took the lives of 270 people, including 35 students returning from a semester of study abroad in London and Florence through the University’s Division of International Programs Abroad (now ).

“My mom remembers it like it was yesterday,” Arbogast says. “Like her, many others remember where they were and when they got the phone call that friends and family had passed. I want to remember the friends that my mother lost as well as all of those who were lost in the tragedy, to allow their lives to live on through the University and those who honor their memory.”

To conclude Remembrance Week, Arbogast and her fellow 2025-26 Remembrance Scholars will be honored at the annual on Friday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

The convocation will be preceded by the annual at 2:03 p.m. at the Place of Remembrance, located in front of the Hall of Languages. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided at the Rose-Laying Ceremony, and ASL and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided at the convocation. The Rose-Laying Ceremony and convocation will be.

Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars

The Remembrance Scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents and corporations. Significant support for the Remembrance Scholarships has been provided by C. Jean Thompson ’66 and Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Richard L. Thompson G’67, H’15 in memory of Jean Taylor Phelan Terry ’43 and John F. Phelan, Jean Thompson’s parents; the Fred L. Emerson Foundation; Deborah Barnes and Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Steven W. Barnes ’82, H’19; and the Syracuse Association of Zeta Psi in remembrance of Alexander Lowenstein.

Applicants for the $5,000 scholarship are asked to highlight their academic achievements, creative pursuits, leadership activities and community service. They also wrote essays and participated in interviews with members of the evaluation committee.

The Remembrance Scholars are joined on campus this week by the . This year’s scholars are 10 students from Lockerbie Academy who were chosen through a competitive process. During their time on campus, the Lockerbie Scholars, accompanied by Lockerbie Academy Head Teacher Brian Asher and Deputy Head Teacher Kerry Currie (a 1996-97 Lockerbie Scholar), are representing the 11 Lockerbie residents who died in the bombing and 2002-03 Lockerbie Scholar Andrew McClune, who died during his scholarship year in Syracuse. The Lockerbie Scholars will also be recognized at Friday’s convocation.

‘Look Back, Act Forward’

This is the 36th year of the Remembrance scholarships, which were established in the year following the tragedy. Since then, 1,280 scholarships have been awarded to Remembrance Scholars and 80 to Lockerbie Scholars.

The motto of the Remembrance Scholars is “Look Back, Act Forward,” and each scholar brings knowledge, perspective and lived experience to Remembrance.

For Remembrance Scholar Edward Lu ’26, a music composition major in the , that motto encourages him to reflect on what it means to be a contemporary artist.

“I aim to honor my predecessors and their past contributions to composition while finding ways to push boundaries and envision fresh and exciting ideas,” he says. “Remembrance has helped shape who I am as an artist and as an individual.”

During his time at Syracuse, Remembrance Scholar Rohan Bangalore ’26, a policy studies and law, society and policy major in the and , has worked with the Special Olympics basketball club.

“Getting to know each athlete—not just as a player but as a person—reinforced my belief that everyone brings value when given the opportunity. Their example deepened my commitment to empathy, respect and public service,” says Bangalore. “As a Remembrance Scholar, I carry those lessons forward with gratitude. In law, policy or public service, I hope to honor those lost on Pan Am 103 through thoughtful, people-centered work.”

Once Remembrance Week has concluded, Remembrance Scholars will continue to be engaged in “Act Forward” projects, the results of which will be shared with the University community in the spring.

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Remembrance Scholars in grey sweatshirts sit in chairs on the Quad
Remembrance Week to Be Held on Campus Oct. 19-25 /2025/10/16/remembrance-week-to-be-held-on-campus-oct-19-25/ Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:05:19 +0000 /?p=326752 The week's activities raise awareness about the impact of the Pan Am 103 bombing on Dec. 21, 1988, over Lockerbie, Scotland, and honor the 270 victims.

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Remembrance Week to Be Held on Campus Oct. 19-25

The week's activities raise awareness about the impact of the Pan Am 103 bombing on Dec. 21, 1988, over Lockerbie, Scotland, and honor the 270 victims.
Kelly Homan Rodoski Oct. 16, 2025

The 2025-26 Remembrance Scholars are looking back and acting forward in a wide variety of ways to raise awareness about the impact of the Pan Am 103 bombing on Dec. 21, 1988, over Lockerbie, Scotland.

During their scholarship year, scholars are engaged in a broad range of “Act Forward” projects, including making a documentary on the impact of the bombing; recording podcasts that tell the stories of people affected by the tragedy; a participatory art project; developing a high school curriculum on media literacy; working with local senior citizens to chronicle their memories; developing a panel discussion on political violence and exploring the experiences of previous Remembrance Scholars.

“The 2025-26 Remembrance Scholars are embracing the program’s motto of “Look Back, Act Forward” through meaningful and innovative contributions to our community,” says Jolynn Parker, director of experiential learning and engagement.

Members of the University community will have an opportunity to learn more about the projects during the Act Forward Symposium on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. in the Allyn Innovation Center, located on the first floor of Link Hall. The event is one of several planned during this year’s Remembrance Week, the University’s annual commemoration of the tragedy.

This year marks the 37th anniversary of the bombing, which claimed the lives of 270 people, including 35 students returning from a semester of study abroad in London and Florence through the University’s Division of International Programs Abroad (now Syracuse Abroad). The Remembrance Scholars have planned events and activities to look back and educate on the ways they are acting forward.

The scholars will be joined by the 2025-26 Lockerbie Scholars on campus during the week. This year’s Lockerbie Scholars are 10 students from Lockerbie Academy who were chosen through a competitive process. During their time on campus, the Lockerbie Scholars, accompanied by Lockerbie Academy Head Teacher Brian Asher and Deputy Head Teacher Kerry Currie (a 1996-97 Lockerbie Scholar), will represent the 11 Lockerbie residents who died in the bombing and 2002-03 Lockerbie Scholar Andrew McClune, who died during his scholarship year in Syracuse.

Remembrance Week will be held Sunday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 25. All activities are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit .

Those who require accommodations to fully participate in these events should contact Tamara Hamilton at315.443.4282 ortnhami01@syr.edu. The week’s schedule is as follows:

All Week

  • Empty Seats Display, Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle:The Empty Seats Display is a visual representation of the Syracuse University students lost aboard Pan Am Flight 103. The exhibition is meant to serve as a reminder of how a loss in the past can inspire positive actions in the present. This year’s Remembrance Scholars and Lockerbie Scholars will sit in solidarity in the chairs for 35 minutes on Wednesday, Oct. 22, beginning at 2 p.m.
  • Pen-and-ink drawings of the Syracuse University study abroad student victims will be on display in Hendricks Chapel.
  • Blue and white flags, one for each of the 270 Pan Am 103 victims, will be on display in the area between the Newhouse School of Public Communications and Schine Student Center. Also, the Hall of Languages, Hendricks Chapel and the JMA Wireless Dome will be lit in blue in honor of Remembrance Week.

Sunday, Oct. 19

  • Remembrance and Resilience, Hendricks Chapel, 4 p.m.: Setnor School of Music students will unite to honor the victims of violence and terrorism, including those who perished in the Pan Am 103 bombing. The concert is part of the Malmgren Concert Series and will be livestreamed on the chapel’s .
  • Candlelight Vigil, Hendricks Chapel steps, 5:30 p.m.: The Remembrance Scholars will remember the 270 victims of Pan Am 103. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available for this event.

Wednesday, Oct. 22

  • “Sitting in Solidarity,” Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle, 2 p.m.: The Remembrance and Lockerbie scholars will sit in the empty chairs on the Quad for 35 minutes.
  • Film Screening, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall, Kittredge Auditorium, 7 p.m.: The British Broadcasting Corporation documentary “Return to Lockerbie With Lorraine Kelly” will be presented, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Thursday, Oct. 23

  • Act Forward Symposium, Allyn Innovation Center, first floor of Link Hall, 6 p.m.: The Remembrance Scholars will present posters that share their plans to “act forward” through outreach, research, education and creative projects designed to benefit the community.
  • Lockerbie Scholars Presentation, 160 Link Hall, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 24

  • Rose-Laying Ceremony, Place of Remembrance, 2:03 p.m.: American Sign Language interpretation will be available for this event. The Rose-Laying Ceremony and Remembrance Convocation will be .
  • Remembrance Scholar Convocation, Hendricks Chapel, 3 p.m.: ​This annual convocation will honor the 2025-26 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars. ASL interpretation and CART will be available. A reception in the Allyn Innovation Center, located on the first floor of Link Hall, will immediately follow.

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A picture of a white rose on the Wall of Remembrance.
At the Intersection of Research and Innovation: Biomedical Engineer Luiza Owuor ’26 Prepares for Career as a Medical Scientist /2025/04/21/at-the-intersection-of-research-and-innovation-biomedical-engineer-luiza-owuor-26-prepares-for-career-as-a-medical-scientist/ Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:51:15 +0000 /blog/2025/04/21/at-the-intersection-of-research-and-innovation-biomedical-engineer-luiza-owuor-26-prepares-for-career-as-a-medical-scientist/ While many of her peers were enjoying the time off between high school graduation and starting college, Luiza Owuor ’26 was participating in the University’s Career Acceleration via Rigorous Educational Experiences in Research (CAREER) program, which introduces students to the research opportunities available to them on campus.
Luiza Owuor
The program helps students like Owuor become involved ...

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At the Intersection of Research and Innovation: Biomedical Engineer Luiza Owuor ’26 Prepares for Career as a Medical Scientist

While many of her peers were enjoying the time off between high school graduation and starting college, Luiza Owuor ’26 was participating in the University’s (CAREER) program, which introduces students to the research opportunities available to them on campus.

A person with braided hair is standing outdoors in front of a building with large windows and some foliage. The person is wearing a dark blazer over a black top.
Luiza Owuor

The program helps students like Owuor become involved with research efforts early on in their academic careers, and for Owuor, the experience, especially a presentation from and Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering , ignited her passion for biochemical engineering.

Once Owuor officially embarked on her journey in the , she wanted to contribute to the , which strives to improve treatments for individuals living with an injury or disease. Through experimental and computational approaches, lab researchers study and apply mechanobiology in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

“I remember being especially drawn to Dr. Henderson’s presentation, and his work really sparked my interest in this field,” says Owuor, president of the Society of Women Engineers and a mentor with Catalyst Scholars, a new program for first-generation students.

“Being involved in his lab has been one of the most defining parts of my academic journey. I’ve co-authored two published papers through BioInspired [which examines complex biological systems], and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see our research make a real contribution to the field,” Owuor says. “I’ve built a strong, family-like bond with my lab members and that sense of support and collaboration has made the experience truly special.”

Owuor, a native of Kisumu, Kenya, was recently named as a 2025-26 Syracuse University Remembrance Scholar. She sat down with SU News to discuss her passion for biomedical engineering, her career goals, the important role of mentoring and how her time on campus has fueled her holistic development.

What sparked your interest in biomedical engineering and the STEM field?

I’ve always wanted to be part of the health care space, but not necessarily on the front lines. Biomedical engineering drew me in because it offers a way to make a real impact from behind the scenes, whether that’s through designing medical devices, developing therapeutic technologies or conducting research that leads to breakthroughs.

Once I got involved in research at Syracuse, I saw how engineering could be used to solve complex biological problems, and that solidified my passion for this field. I love that I get to blend innovation with purpose every day.

What are your career goals and ambitions?

To become a medical scientist and contribute to the development of innovative therapies that improve patient outcomes. I’m especially interested in translational research, taking discoveries from the lab and turning them into real solutions for people. Pursuing a Ph.D. is part of that path, and I hope to work at the intersection of research and innovation to help address some of the biggest challenges in health care.

What role has mentoring played in your development?

Mentorship has shaped so much of my growth. From research mentors in the to peer leaders in student organizations like the Society of Women Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), I’ve been guided and supported by people who believed in my potential. Mentoring others—whether through Academic Excellence Workshops or Catalyst Scholar mentoring—feels like a full-circle moment. It’s my way of paying it forward.

How has your time at Syracuse University helped fuel your development?

Syracuse has been instrumental in my growth—academically, professionally and personally. Through leadership roles like serving as president of the Society of Women Engineers and alumni relations chair for NSBE, I’ve developed strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.

The (SOURCE) program has been a major support system, funding my research projects and giving me the platform to present my work. Syracuse has also connected me with the resources and guidance I needed to secure meaningful internships, including one for this upcoming summer. On top of that, my classes have equipped me with technical lab skills and data analysis that will directly apply to my field and my future career goals.

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At the Intersection of Research and Innovation: Biomedical Engineer Luiza Owuor ’26 Prepares for Career as a Medical Scientist
University Announces 2025-26 Remembrance Scholars /2025/04/17/university-announces-2025-26-remembrance-scholars/ Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:15:35 +0000 /blog/2025/04/17/university-announces-2025-26-remembrance-scholars/ Thirty-five students have been chosen as the 2025-26 Syracuse University Remembrance Scholars.
The scholarships, now in their 36th year, were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the students studying in London and Florence through Syracuse University who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Those students were among the 270 peopl...

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University Announces 2025-26 Remembrance Scholars

Hall of Languages and Remembrance Wall with roses

Thirty-five students have been chosen as the 2025-26 Syracuse University Remembrance Scholars.

The scholarships, now in their 36th year, were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the students studying in London and Florence through Syracuse University who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Those students were among the 270 people who perished in the bombing. The scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents and corporations.

Significant support for the Remembrance Scholarships has been provided by Jean Thompson ’66 and Syracuse University Life Trustee Richard L. Thompson G’67 in memory of Jean Taylor Phelan Terry ’43 and John F. Phelan, Jean Thompson’s parents; by Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Steven Barnes ’82 and Deborah Barnes; by The Syracuse Association of Zeta Psi in memory of Alexander Lowenstein; and by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation.

Selection Process

Remembrance Scholars are chosen in their junior year through a competitive selection process. Applicants submitted an essay and a reflective response in multimedia, artistic, musical or written format as part of a comprehensive application. The application evaluation committee is composed of University faculty and staff and current Remembrance Scholars. The $5,000 scholarships are awarded on the basis of community impact, leadership, creativity and thoughtful academic inquiry.

“Remembrance Scholars, through their academic achievements, leadership and contributions to the campus and local communities, exemplify what a Syracuse University education has to offer and represent the promise of the students for whom these scholarships are named,” says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “We are proud to recognize their accomplishments.”

The Remembrance Scholars plan the Remembrance activities held at the University each year, and the cohort will be recognized during a convocation in the fall.

The 2025-26 Remembrance Scholars, their hometowns, majors and schools and colleges are the following:

  • Ellie Allen of Newton, Massachusetts, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • Jacqueline Arbogast of Warwick, New York, a television, radio and film major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications;
  • Rohan Bangalore of Sterling, Virginia, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School;
  • Caiyan Bass of Aurora, Colorado, a communication sciences and disorders major in A&S;
  • Michael Capous of Wantagh, New York, a nutrition science major (pre-med track) in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics;
  • Belinda Chan of Brooklyn, New York, a social work major in the Falk College;
  • Tommy DaSilva of Newark, Delaware, a public health major in the Falk College; a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S, and a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School;
  • Nick Dekaney of Syracuse, New York, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School;
  • Ava Downey of Newport Beach, California, a linguistics major in A&S, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • Leah Farrell of New Milford, Connecticut, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School and policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • Abbey Fitzpatrick of Pacific Grove, California, a history and political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
  • Olivia Fried of Clinton Corners, New York, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S and magazine, news and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School;
  • Tanishka Gajula of Chicago, Illinois, a biology major (pre-med track) in A&S;
  • Olutoyin Green, of Long Island, New York, a health humanities and political philosophy major in A&S, a law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • Alani Henderson of Syracuse, New York, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a law, society and policy major the Maxwell School;
  • Nico Horning of El Dorado Hills, California, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School;
  • Wafiq Khondkar of New Hyde Park, New York, a biotechnology and philosophy major in A&S and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • Edward Lu of Robbinsville, New Jersey, a music composition major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA);
  • Joy Mao, of Cary, North Carolina, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a television, radio and film major in the Newhouse School, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • Valeria Martinez-Gutierrez of Laredo, Texas, a geography and sociology major in the Maxwell School and A&S; an environment, sustainability and policy major in the Maxwell School, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • German Nolivos of Miami, Florida, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a public relations major in the Newhouse School;
  • Luiza Owour of Kisumu, Kenya, a biomedical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS);
  • Marc Pantano of Newington, Connecticut, a marketing and supply chain management major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management;
  • Annaliese Pillitteri of Babylon, New York, a film major in VPA;
  • Savion Pollard of Queens, New York, an electrical engineering major in ECS and a U.S. Navy veteran;
  • Zachary Setzkorn of Overland Park, Kansas, a geography and history major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a social studies education major in the Maxwell School and School of Education, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • Ethan Shavelson of Parkland, Florida, an acting major in VPA;
  • Taylor Stubitsch of Arlington Heights, Illinois, a biochemistry and forensic science major in A&S and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • Candace Tabb of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, a civil engineering major in ECS;
  • Nathan Torabi, of Visalia, California, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S; a citizenship and civic engagement and law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • Jacquelyn Trotman of Edison, New Jersey, a retail management major in the Whitman School, an advertising major (creative track) in the Newhouse School, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • Anya Von Wolff of San Francisco, California, a fashion design major in VPA;
  • Logan Wagner of Great Falls, Virginia, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S, an environmental sustainability and policy major in the Maxwell School and a history of music and cultures major in A&S;
  • Gillian Weltman of Rochester, New York, a communications sciences and disorders and neuroscience major in A&S; and
  • Ethan Yankey of Roseau, Dominica, a design studies major in VPA.

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Falk College Students Share Their Experiences as Remembrance Scholars Honoring Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing /2024/12/16/falk-college-students-share-their-experiences-as-remembrance-scholars-honoring-victims-of-pan-am-flight-103-bombing/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:23:21 +0000 /blog/2024/12/16/falk-college-students-share-their-experiences-as-remembrance-scholars-honoring-victims-of-pan-am-flight-103-bombing/ For Alyssa Sutherland ’25 and Tabitha Hulme ’25, the title of Remembrance Scholar is not a responsibility they take lightly.
Syracuse University established the Remembrance Scholar program in 1989, one year after the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, that claimed the lives of all 270 people on board, including 35 Syracuse University students who were returning from ...

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Falk College Students Share Their Experiences as Remembrance Scholars Honoring Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing

For Alyssa Sutherland ’25 and Tabitha Hulme ’25, the title of Remembrance Scholar is not a responsibility they take lightly.

Syracuse University established the in 1989, one year after the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, that claimed the lives of all 270 people on board, including who were returning from a semester studying abroad. Each Remembrance Scholar is paired with a victim and is tasked with honoring that individual and keeping their memory alive.

Miriam Luby Wolfe
Miriam Luby Wolfe

When Sutherland found out she was accepted, she was studying abroad in India.

“I looked at my email and just immediately started crying,” says Sutherland, a public health major from St. Louis, Missouri. “It was instant honor and gratitude, but then as soon as you’re happy and excited, the next feeling that comes in is that weight and that heaviness of what that means to officially be a Remembrance Scholar.”

The news was equally emotional for Hulme, a public health major from Saratoga, California, whose grandfather had worked as a Pan Am pilot.

“I was on the phone with tech support for a computer problem when I got the email that I was selected as a Remembrance Scholar and I was so emotional I had to tell tech support I’d call them back,” Hulme says.

Message from Rosemary Mild to Remembrance Scholar Alyssa Sutherland.
Miriam Luby Wolfe’s mother, Rosemary, sent this heartfelt note to Remembrance Scholar Alyssa Sutherland.

Sutherland’s scholarship is in honor of , a student in the College of Visual and Performing Arts who had spent her semester in London interning at King’s Head Theatre and studying dance, dramatic literature, acting, voice and art history. Sutherland has connected through email with Miriam’s mother, Rosemary, who now lives in Hawaii. Rosemary sent Alyssa a copy of her book, “,” with a handwritten note, “For Alyssa, May life bring you many blessings. With love and Aloha! Rosemary.”

Hulme’s scholarship is in honor of , a student in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. He was an actor and athlete who competed on the Syracuse University men’s lacrosse team. Tabitha learned about Turhan’s life by spending time in the and having conversations with his friends, and she discovered almost kismet connections.

“There were so many commonalities between my life and his that I never expected to experience,” Hulme says. “In high school, he did journalism, and he got a national award for the type of journalism he did. It ended up that my father had actually received that same award when he was in high school.”

Turhan Michael Ergin.
Turhan Michael Ergin

Sutherland and Hulme both share a strong dedication to service and intend to keep Miriam’s and Turhan’s memories with them throughout their lives. At this year’s , the two shared the following remarks:

Sutherland: “I lay this rose in memory of Miriam Luby Wolfe. I am acting forward by being a leader on campus and beyond. I am using my skills to promote and teach cultural competency as well as the importance of inclusivity and interdependence in every community.”

Hulme: “I lay this rose in honor of Turhan Michael Ergin. When I think of the profound impact of Pan Am Flight 103, I am reminded of the quote, ‘Grief is love with no place to go.’ This flight–meant to bring together family members, friends, beliefs, stories, cultures, and, above all else, love–has changed my perspective on action. As a pre-medical student studying public health and health humanities, I plan to act forward by pursuing a career as a physician focused on patient equity and forever a dedication to service.”

The annual Pan Am Flight 103 memorial service will be held at 2:03 p.m. EST on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Hendricks Chapel (that is the time of the incident over Lockerbie). The service will begin in the chapel’s Noble Room, with attendees then processing to the Place of Remembrance.

Learn more about the and to be a Remembrance Scholar.

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Pan Am 103 Memorial Service to Be Held on Campus Dec. 21 /2024/12/09/pan-am-103-memorial-service-to-be-held-on-campus-dec-21/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 17:18:06 +0000 /blog/2024/12/09/pan-am-103-memorial-service-to-be-held-on-campus-dec-21/ Hendricks Chapel will host the annual Pan Am Flight 103 memorial service on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2:03 p.m. EST. The service will begin in the chapel’s Noble Room, with attendees then processing to the Place of Remembrance.
The annual Pan Am 103 memorial service will honor the 270 people, including Syracuse University study abroad students, who were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by...

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Pan Am 103 Memorial Service to Be Held on Campus Dec. 21

will host the annual Pan Am Flight 103 memorial service on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2:03 p.m. EST. The service will begin in the chapel’s Noble Room, with attendees then processing to the Place of Remembrance.

Roses on the wall at the Place of Remembrance
The annual Pan Am 103 memorial service will honor the 270 people, including Syracuse University study abroad students, who were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb on Dec. 21, 1988.

The service will honor the 270 people, including Syracuse University study abroad students, who were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland, on that date and at that time 36 years ago. Chaplains will offer prayers and reflections.The event will also be offered virtually; is required to receive the YouTube link.

Personal reflections and memories, which can be submitted upon registration, may be included in the ceremony. Closed captioning will be provided.

Requests for additional accommodations can be made by contacting Hendricks Chapel atchapelevents@syr.edu.

This service is offered in partnership with the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars, Hendricks Chapel and the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving.

A memorial service at the Pan Am 103 memorial cairn at Arlington National Cemetery, organized by the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 families group, will also be held that afternoon.

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Pan Am 103 Memorial Service to Be Held on Campus Dec. 21
Remembrance Scholarship 2025-26 Application Cycle Is Now Open /2024/11/19/remembrance-scholarship-2025-26-application-cycle-is-now-open/ Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:24:14 +0000 /blog/2024/11/19/remembrance-scholarship-2025-26-application-cycle-is-now-open/ All Syracuse University students are invited to learn more about the Remembrance Scholarship. Students planning to graduate in December 2025, May 2026 or summer 2026 are invited to apply now for the 2025-26 cohort.
The application deadline for the 2025-26 Remembrance Scholarship cohort is Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
The Remembrance Scholarship is one of the highest honors a Syracuse University student ...

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Remembrance Scholarship 2025-26 Application Cycle Is Now Open

All Syracuse University students are invited to learn more about the . Students planning to graduate in December 2025, May 2026 or summer 2026 are invited to apply now for the 2025-26 cohort.

Roses on the wall at the Place of Remembrance
The application deadline for the 2025-26 Remembrance Scholarship cohort is Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.

The Remembrance Scholarship is one of the highest honors a Syracuse University student can receive. Those selected are chosen on the basis of leadership, creativity, thoughtful academic inquiry and community impact, including through service to the military, ROTC, first responder, student government, campus clubs or other community organizations.

The 35 rising seniors chosen are each awarded a $5,000 Remembrance Scholarship, and are charged with helping to educate the campus community about the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.

Scholars are expected to undertake meaningful service and to promote initiatives to combat hatred and extremism.Through education, all 270 lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, especially our 35 students, are remembered and honored. The motto of the Remembrance Scholars is “Look Back and Act Forward.”

Who Can Apply?

Any Syracuse University undergraduate student who is in good academic standing and will graduate in either December 2025, May 2026 or summer 2026 is eligible to apply. Students self-nominate for this scholarship. This award is not tied to financial need.

Information Sessions

Information sessions will be held on the following dates and times:

  • Thursday, Dec. 5, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Room 104, Whitman School of Management
  • Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 4 to 5 p.m. on (registration required)

At each session, current Remembrance Scholars will provide an overview of their experience, from the application stage to their participation in Remembrance Week.

To request accommodations for the information sessions, contact Melissa Welshans at mlwelsha@syr.edu.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.

Questions may be directed to remember@syr.edu.

Press Contact

Do you have a news tip, story idea or know a person we should profile on 鶹Ʒ? Send an email to internalcomms@syr.edu.

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Remembrance Scholarship 2025-26 Application Cycle Is Now Open
University’s Annual Remembrance Week Begins Oct. 20 /2024/10/14/universitys-annual-remembrance-week-begins-oct-20/ Mon, 14 Oct 2024 14:17:19 +0000 /blog/2024/10/14/universitys-annual-remembrance-week-begins-oct-20/ This year marks the 36th anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988. The 2024-25 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars have planned events and activities to look back and remember the 270 people who lost their lives in the tragedy, and to educate on the ways they are acting forward.
Remembrance Week, the annual weeklong series of events, will be held Sunday, O...

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University’s Annual Remembrance Week Begins Oct. 20

Remembrance Week graphic

This year marks the 36th anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988. The 2024-25 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars have planned events and activities to look back and remember the 270 people who lost their lives in the tragedy, and to educate on the ways they are acting forward.

Remembrance Week, the annual weeklong series of events, will be held Sunday, Oct. 20, through Saturday, Oct. 26. Remembrance Week events are meant to memorialize the victims and further educate the campus community about terrorism. All activities are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit .

Those who require accommodations to fully participate in these events should contact Radell Roberts at315.443.0221 orrrober02@syr.edu. The schedule is as follows:

All Week

  • Empty Seats Display, Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle:The Empty Seats Display is a visual representation of the Syracuse University students lost aboard Pan Am Flight 103. The exhibition is meant to serve as a reminder of how a loss in the past can inspire positive actions in the present. This year’s Remembrance Scholars will sit in solidarity in the chairs for 35 minutes on Wednesday, Oct. 23, beginning at 2 p.m.
  • Pen-and-ink drawings of the Syracuse University study abroad student victims will be on display in Hendricks Chapel.
  • Blue and white flags, one for each of the 270 Pan Am 103 victims, will be on display in the area between the Newhouse School and Schine Student Center. Also, the Hall of Languages, Hendricks Chapel and the JMA Wireless Dome will be lit in blue in honor of Remembrance Week.

Sunday, Oct. 20

  • “Each Moment Radiant,” Hendricks Chapel 4 p.m.: The Malmgren Concert Series will feature the world premiere of “Each Moment Radiant,” a newly commissioned chamber work by composer Kurt Erickson and poet Brian Turner commemorating the Pan Am Flight 103 air disaster. Setnor School of Music faculty and guest musicians will perform Erickson and Turner’s song cycle “Here, Bullet” and Johannes Brahms’ piano trio in C minor.
  • “Healing Trauma Through Poetry and Music,” National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building, 5:30 p.m.: Composer Kurt Erickson and poet Brian Turner will lead a reception and discussion on the genesis and creative process behind “Here, Bullet” and “Each Moment Radiant.”

These events are co-sponsored by the Syracuse Symposium, the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, the Society for New Music, the Setnor School of Music and the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars. The commission for “Each Moment Radiant” was made possible through the CNY Arts Grants for Regional Arts and Cultural Engagement regrant program thanks to a New York State Senate Initiative supported by the NYS Legislature, the Office of the Governor and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.

  • , Place of Remembrance, 7 p.m.: The Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars will begin Remembrance Week activities with a candlelight vigil to remember the 270 victims of Pan Am 103.

Wednesday, Oct. 23

  • “Sitting in Solidarity,” Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle, 2 p.m.: The Remembrance and Lockerbie scholars will sit in the empty chairs on the Quad for 35 minutes.

Thursday, Oct. 24

  • Act Forward Symposium, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall atrium (outside Gifford Auditorium), 7 p.m.: The Remembrance Scholars will present posters that share their plans to “act forward” through outreach, research, education and creative projects designed to benefit the community.
  • , Gifford Auditorium, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall, 8 p.m.: An evening of music, poetry, art, dancing and more to honor the victims of Pan Am 103 and to celebrate life alongside the victims’ families and the current scholars. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) will be available for this event.

Friday, Oct. 25

  • “In The Aftermath: Documenting and Researching Victim Support Groups,” Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, 114 Bird Library, and Zoom (), 10 a.m.: A panel discussion focusing on the collection, preservation and use of important records of the aftermath of tragedies and disasters. Organized by the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at the Special Collections Research Center and moderated by Vanessa St.Oegger-Menn, Pan Am 103 archivist and assistant University archivist. Panelists are Jelena Watkins, co-director of the Centre for Collective Trauma in the United Kingdom and member of the Archiving Disaster Support Group Records project team, and Ezra Rudolph, research associate for Contemporary and Cultural History at the University of Göttingen in Germany. Both will talk about their work and experiences and share insights into the lasting significance and unique challenges of victim support group records in documenting the aftermath of tragic events. A question-and-answer session will follow the moderated discussion. CART will be provided. If you require accessibility accommodations, email Max Wagh at mlwagh@syr.edu by Friday, Oct. 18.
  • , Place of Remembrance, 2:03 p.m.: This annual ceremony remembers the 270 people, including 35 students studying abroad through Syracuse University, who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing. The ceremony also honors 2002-03 Lockerbie Scholar Andrew McClune, who died in 2002. American Sign Language interpretation will be available for this event.
  • Remembrance Scholar Convocation, Hendricks Chapel, 3 p.m.: ​This annual convocation will honor the 2024-25 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars. ASL interpretation and CART will be available for this event. A reception in the Strasser Legacy Room, 220 Eggers Hall, will immediately follow.

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University Names 2024-25 Remembrance Scholars /2024/04/17/university-names-2024-25-remembrance-scholars/ Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:14:42 +0000 /blog/2024/04/17/university-names-2024-25-remembrance-scholars/ Thirty-five students have been chosen as the 2024-25 Syracuse University Remembrance Scholars.
The scholarships, now in their 35th year, were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the students studying in London and Florence through Syracuse University who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Those students were among the 270 peopl...

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University Names 2024-25 Remembrance Scholars

Remembrance Scholar graphic

Thirty-five students have been chosen as the 2024-25 Syracuse University Remembrance Scholars.

The scholarships, now in their 35th year, were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the students studying in London and Florence through Syracuse University who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Those students were among the 270 people who perished in the bombing. The scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents and corporations.

Significant support for the Remembrance Scholarships has been provided by Jean Thompson ’66 and Syracuse University Life Trustee Richard L. Thompson G’67 in memory of Jean Taylor Phelan Terry ’43 and John F. Phelan, Jean Thompson’s parents; by Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Steven Barnes ’82 and Deborah Barnes; by The Syracuse Association of Zeta Psi in memory of Alexander Lowenstein; and by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation.

Selection Process

Remembrance Scholars are chosen in their junior year through a competitive selection process. Applicants submitted an essay and a reflective response in multimedia, artistic, musical or written format as part of a comprehensive application. The application evaluation committee is composed of University faculty and staff and current Remembrance Scholars. The $5,000 scholarships are awarded on the basis of scholarship, leadership and service to the community.

Additionally, two students from Lockerbie come to Syracuse each year for one year of study through the Syracuse-Lockerbie Scholarships, also in their 35th year. The scholarships are jointly funded by Syracuse University and the Lockerbie Trust. Cameron Colville and Anna Newbould were recently selected as the 2024-25 Lockerbie Scholars.

“Remembrance Scholars represent Syracuse University at its best through their academic achievements, their leadership skills and their contributions to the University,” says Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter. “They reflect the talent and promise of those students whose memories they honor. We are very proud to call them members of our University community.”

The Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars plan the Remembrance activities held at the University each year. The scholars will be recognized during a convocation in the fall.

The 2024-25 Remembrance Scholars, their hometowns, majors and schools and colleges are the following:

  • Alba Aljiboury of Syracuse, New York, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), an information management and technology major in the School of Information Studies and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
  • Linda Baguma of Iowa City, Iowa, a double major in international relations and political science in the Maxwell School and A&S and member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Adam Baltaxe of Arlington, Virginia, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a Spanish major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Tanner Boshart of Jackson, New Jersey, an economics major and history major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a finance major in the Whitman School of Management and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Danis Cammett of Washington, D.C., an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, applied data analytics major in the School of Information Studies, a member of the Crown Honors Program and a member of the University’s Army Reserve Officer Training Program;
  • Natalie Dolenga of Lincolnshire, Illinois, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Charlotte Ebel of Urbana, Illinois, a public relations major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, a women’s and gender studies and German major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Luke Elliott of Leesburg, Virginia, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School, a public relations major in the Newhouse School and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Mason Garbus of Hannibal, New York, a music education major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and the School of Education;
  • Joshua Garvin of Houston, Texas, a music industry major in VPA;
  • Tabitha Hulme of Saratoga, California, a public health major in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and health humanities major in A&S;
  • Abigail Jones of Mashpee, Massachusetts, a public relations major in the Newhouse School, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Rajan Joshi of Dallas, Texas, an economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Sierra Kaplan of New York, New York, a health humanities major in A&S; a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Kelsey Leary of Mahopac, New York, an art photography major in VPA;
  • Nadia Lyngdoh-Sommer of Singapore, a sociology major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Sophia Moore of Burbank, California, a television, radio and film major in the Newhouse School, a sociology major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Zachary Murray of Kingston, Jamaica, a political science and policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a modern foreign languages major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Ryan Myers of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, a public relations major in the Newhouse School, a psychology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Mark Nzasi of Scranton, Pennsylvania, a neuroscience and psychology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Cheryl Olanga of Nairobi, Kenya, a computer science major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS);
  • Adya Parida of Odisha, India, a computer science major in ECS and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Jenna Poma of Queens, New York, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Tia Poquette of Brooklyn, New York, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S:
  • Alekhya Rajasekaran of Visalia, California, a biotechnology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Olivia Reid of Richmond, California, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Mason Romero of Olathe, Kansas, a music education major in VPA and the School of Education, a music history and cultures major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Alie Savane of Bronx, New York, a biology major in A&S;
  • Abigael Scott of Plattsburgh, New York, a neuroscience and biology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Yifan “Ivan” Shen of Shanghai, China, a student in the School of Architecture, a music history and cultures major in A&S, and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Justine Smith of Somerville, New Jersey, a political science and policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Joshua Spodek of Wayne, New Jersey, a history major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a social studies education major in the Maxwell School and the School of Education and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Alyssa Sutherland of St. Louis, Missouri, a public health major in the Falk College; a women’s and gender studies major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program;
  • Evelina Torres of Houston, Texas, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School and a member of the Crown Honors Program; and
  • Leondra Tyler of Cicero, New York, a neuroscience and psychology major in A&S.

 

 

 

 

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University Names 2024-25 Remembrance Scholars