Big Love and Deep Appreciation

Local, state, and national law enforcement agencies spent countless hours strategizing during the search for Madelyn Allen.

Snow College Community Rallies in Two Impossibly Difficult Situations

By Marci Larsen

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Fall semester 2021 reminded us it takes a community to support a college. Through two unimaginable experiences, the Spirit of Snow soared in our college and surrounding communities.

On October 3, 2021, Mafatini Mafatini, a freshman football player from Maui, Hawaii, passed away due to a tragic, one-car accident. Mafatini was just starting his college education and loved everything about Snow College. The heart-breaking news of his death started a ripple effect of heart-warming actions. Employees jumped in and reprioritized their work to support a student-led vigil. Thousands of students gathered to support one another and pay their respects to a classmate. Later in the week, those same students raised nearly $2,000 with the help of football fans as they passed around a helmet during the game Mafatini’s family had already planned to attend…as a surprise to their son. College President Brad Cook, and his wife, Jen, welcomed the Mafatini family into their home for a week while they were in Ephraim, local ecclesiastical leaders and volunteers helped the family plan a funeral, and several local businesses financially assisted with numerous unplanned costs for the family.

During the difficult week while many Snow College employees, students, and community members reflected on the fragility of life, anonymous donors contacted college officials to create the Mafatini Big Love Scholarship, which will be used by future Snow College student-athletes who bring light into the lives of others as Mafatini did. The donors believe “Mafatini’s influence was felt by many. His love, his sincere kindness, his big heart, his desire to help and lift those around him, and his intent to do good in our world will be remembered.” Snow College Assistant to the President for Student Engagement Rob Nielson commented, “Through this tragedy, we have been reminded of people’s goodness. We are fortunate to be a part of this community.”

The Mafatini family was humbled by and grateful for the compassion shown to them. Just a few short months later, another family expressed similar sentiments of appreciation as they lived through a parent's worst nightmare: a missing child.

FEATURESECTION

Snow College and the local law enforcement community launched a nation-wide search with the primary goal of finding Madelyn Allen, a freshman from northern Utah, who disappeared after leaving her college dormitory on December 13, 2021. She spent more than 100 hours in what her family would later call a “dangerous and traumatic ordeal,” and on December 18, 2021, the college gratefully announced Madelyn had been located and reunited with family members. Snow College Chief of Police Derek Walk said the investigative team—which included local, state, and national law enforcement agencies—spent countless hours following leads, utilizing investigative tools, interviewing individuals, analyzing data, and carefully coordinating efforts. He thanked the public and members of the media for their assistance, and while holding back emotion during the press conference, said, “We all hoped and prayed this would be the outcome.”

Strong, smart, and stalwart family members referred to those prayers, noting they had been strengthened during the grueling five days of worry, wondering, and waiting. President Cook and his leadership team had swiftly made college resources available as uncles, aunts, and grandparents set up a command center in the Noyes Building. The family met often with investigators and college administrators, regularly expressed admiration and appreciation for those working on the case, and took an exceptionally proactive role in the search. The coordination between police and FBI, Snow College administrators, the campus community, and Madelyn’s family was nothing short of a miracle. From the college president to the local Snow Hall student resident assistant—across the student body, administration, staff, and faculty—the entire campus community united to help where they could and offer prayers and well wishes for Madelyn’s safe return. As a result, Madelyn was found and rescued.

The family was astounded by the love and kindness shown by friends, family, and even strangers from around the globe. Every major national news network shared their story. In a poignant moment, which demonstrated immense character, Madelyn’s parents acknowledged the suffering and trials many people face and encouraged everyone to reflect on the unity that can come when individuals pull together and focus on a singular objective that is good, as so many did in this situation. “We hope we can use this as an opportunity to continue to harness that incredible energy and move it to where we can help, serve, love, lift, and bless others in public and private spaces,” the relieved, inspiring parents commented.

Prior to Madelyn’s rescue, two vigils had been scheduled for Sunday, December 20, to draw additional attention to the case and announce reward money for a safe return. Now, with Madelyn found, the parents requested the vigils be held as gatherings of gratitude for the remarkable outpouring of love and support shown by the Snow College community and other family and friends.

At those gatherings and at the vigil held for Mafatini, it was very clear that both Madelyn and Mafatini have had strong villages teaching, supporting, and helping them throughout their lives. Their villages, combined with the remarkable Snow College community, resulted in an almost-tangible force of goodness. For all involved in both of these impossibly difficult experiences, there will always be big love and deep appreciation for the Snow College community.

Students gathered at the vigil to honor Mafatini.