Remembering and moving ahead one step at a time

The front steps of the Kennedy Building quickly became the site of a memorial to the students whose lives were lost and a place to honor those who were injured in their classroom on April 30.

Wade Bruton

BY JONNELLE DAVIS

Riley Howell and Ellis Reed Parlier,who died on April 30, are forever imprinted on the hearts and minds of the UNC Charlotte community. During commencement ceremonies May 11, their families accepted Degrees in Memoriam for them. A couple’s anonymous gift of $1 million will fund scholarships in Howell’s and Parlier’s names, and the University is consulting with both families to establish criteria reflective of their sons’ lives to determine future recipients of the awards.

Howell, of Waynesville, North Carolina, came to UNC Charlotte in fall 2018 as a transfer student. He was an environmental studies major who enjoyed kayaking, canoeing, cross country and cooking. And he was selfless. Howell tackled the gunman inside the Kennedy Building, sacrificing his own life but saving the lives of many of his fellow classmates.

Parlier, of Midland, North Carolina, enrolled at UNC Charlotte in fall 2017 with plans to pursue a major in computer science and become a video game developer. The techsavvy Parlier had been the go-to person for any of his family’s technological issues.

Over the past several months, the UNC Charlotte and greater communities have focused on memorializing Howell and Parlier and supporting the four other students injured that day: Rami Alramadhan, Sean DeHart, Emily Houpt and Drew Pescaro, all who have expressed appreciation for the outpouring of love and support as they recover and move forward with their lives.

Niner Nation Unites, the University’s crowdfunding effort for all six victims of the April 30 incident, has raised more than $87,000. In addition to the $1 million gift, the families of Parlier and Howell have established individual memorial scholarship funds. Howell’s family also has established the Riley Howell Foundation Fund to benefit organizations that support victims of gun violence. In June, the foundation made its first gift, which was to UNC Charlotte to fund grief counseling services for students and faculty.

Perseverance paves the path forward

Alramadhan, an engineering major, is looking forward to starting his sophomore year.

“I’m going to try to just be normal and focus on my classes,” Alramadhan said. “Because now, I don’t just study for me. I study for Riley and Reed. I’m going to do my best for them.”

Houpt received a bachelor’s degree in international studies May 11; she’s starting her career this fall.

“I want to thank everyone who has reached out to my family and me,” Houpt said. “The outpouring of support has been tremendous and has meant a lot as we continue to work through what took place on April 30.”

DeHart spent his summer working in Charlotte and is looking forward to starting his junior year.

A communications major, Pescaro is eager to start his junior year. He intends to continue working with the football team and to be involved with his fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega. Pescaro also plans to work with the Christine F. Price Center for Counseling and Psychological Services to provide mental health healing groups for students who are still coping with the events of April 30.

“This experience has made me appreciate life much more than I realized,” Pescaro said. “I understand how precious every day is, and that the power of love is so much stronger than that of hate.”

Jonnelle Davis is coordinator for Advancement communications, University Communications.

Summer 2019 | UNC CHARLOTTE magazine 3