A memorial has been established in the lounge of Litton-Reaves Hall to Emily Hilscher, one of the 32 Virginia Tech students shot and killed during the events of April 16, 2007.
The Emily Jane Hilscher Student Lounge is located in the busy first floor of the building, where all students who enter are able to view a large bronze plaque, saddle and renovated lounge area.
The lounge centerpiece is a “bronze plaque with a picture of Emily, and a horse,” said Cindy Hixon, executive secretary of the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences. “On the plaque are the words written that literally came from her mother. ... It’s beautiful.”
Hixon also said beside the plaque is a saddle that was donated and signed multiple times by Hilscher’s horse-loving friends. The saddle remains in its own custom-designed side cabinet.
The memorial’s official dedication ceremony was held Sept. 19. At the ceremony, the plaque was unveiled as friends, family and past faculty admired the newly dedicated area and received T-shirts with an “A.O.K” symbol embellished across each one.
The symbol stands for “acts of kindness,” which is said to symbolize Hilscher’s personality who is remembered as a dedicated and passionate person dedicated to serving others, as said by her parents.
In addition to the creation of the special lounge, a memorial fund, the Emily Jane Hilscher Memorial Classroom Renovation Fund, has also been established.
Jacques Klempf of Jacksonville, Fla. established the fund, whose main purpose is to raise money to repair and refurbish educational spaces within the building of Litton Reaves itself.
Emily Hilscher was the daughter of Eric and Elizabeth Hilscher. She was originally from the town of Woodville, Va., and was a freshman when she was killed.
She wished to major in animal and poultry science, with the hopes of becoming a veterinarian. Hilscher was also a member of Tech’s equestrian team.