Collegiate Times

Emotions ran high as students mourned and remembered those that they lost during the last two-week period at a candlelight vigil held Tuesday night outside of War Memorial Chapel.

Several hundred people attended the vigil for the three Tech students who died this March.  They gathered despite the wind and cold to remember Bryan Baugh, Sami Ullah and Sarah Dugas.

Iman Ghanizada, a childhood friend of Ullah's since middle school and fellow business information technology major, spoke in memory of him at the vigil.

"He carried a positive vibe with him and everywhere you went, he made you happy.  I guarantee that of everyone here, not a single person has something bad to say about him," Ghanizada said.

He went on to describe his experience with Ullah's confidence, optimism and presence, recounting Ullah's success at Business Horizon's with no prior preparation.

Lauren Anderson, a close friend of Baugh's, read a poem that she wrote in the form of letters to him after the loss, and describing what she would miss about him and his vibrancy.

"I need lots of protecting, but you did a lot of that in this life, so I didn't think you'd mind taking up the gauntlet in heaven either," said Anderson in her poem. "My life here on earth will never be the same without you."

Anderson was able to bring both laughter and tears from the crowd remembering his life.

Chris Brown, a high school friend of Dugas who came to Tech with her, spoke in remembrance of her, remembering her positivity, liveliness and outgoing nature.

"In every single picture, she's with someone, hugging them, laughing with them, smiling with them, living life. Sarah possessed this amazing ability to make friends wherever she went," Brown said. "She was a beam of sunshine and a breath of fresh air."

Brown went on to describe her laugh, her klutziness, and her sense of humor, asking people to remember the positive side of Dugas' life.

After Ghanizada, Anderson and Brown spoke for their friends, candles were lit for the three wreaths by the three respective friends.  Students then lit their candles during a moment of silence followed by music chosen by the friends of those mourned.

The vigil was organized by the Hokie Bird, and the event was attended by members of the Division of Student Affairs to offer assistance to any students seeking it that evening.

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A version of this article appeared in the Mar 20 issue of the Collegiate Times.