Ragin’ Cajun community holds Night of Remembrance for those they lost

Members of the UL volleyball team pay tribute to deceased teammate Sawyer Camillo during a candlelight vigil during the Night of Remembrance at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Center on Wednesday. / photos by Paul Kieu, The Advertiser

Written by Jessica Goff Daily Advertiser, May 2, 2013

Vijay Singh said his daughter Navasha, a globe-trotting doctoral biology student, chose to study at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette because she loved the region’s unique ecology.

But Navasha Singh died suddenly of a brain hemorrhage in November. On Wednesday, her family flew in from California to join the families and friends of seven other students, three employees and four faculty members who were lost to the Ragin’ Cajun community during the academic year.

Among those honored were 42-year UL English Department employee Barbara Cicardo; freshman volleyball player Sawyer Camillo; UL psychology student Mallory Simmons; and Mickey Shunick, who received her bachelor’s degree in anthropology posthumously in December, seven months after her widely publicized abduction and death.

Seated in the crowd, Shunick’s mother, Nancy, wore neon green sunglasses, an accessory often worn by her late daughter.

Started in 2010, Night of Remembrance has become an annual UL tradition held just at the close of the academic year, said mistress of ceremonies Camille Claiborne. It’s held for closure and chance for the entire college community to say goodbye.

“Please know that you and your loved ones will always be part of our university,” Claiborne told the crowd gathered outside the Alumni Center.

There was never any question of that for Ray Veillon, daughter Rachel Manuel said. Veillon was a 28-year employee for the university. His children attended the university and now Manuel works for the system.

“He lived and breathed ULL,” she said.

For the Singhs, UL had a welcoming feeling this week, even for a family in town to collect a daughter’s possessions, Vijay Sign said.

“We had to come to this,” he said after the ceremony Wednesday. “We’d have so much support from her friends and the faculty. We’ve made friends with people we didn’t know until after.”

Night of Remembrance honorees

Students
Sawyer Camillo, Hospitality Management, B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration, Freshman, Argyle, Texas
Laura Gorham, Educational Foundations & Leadership, Graduate School/College of Education, Master’s Graduate, Eunice
Damein Johnson, Biology Education, College of Education, Freshman, Breaux Bridge
Bret Legnon, Marketing, B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration, Senior, Lafayette
Mickey Shunick, Anthropology, College of Liberal Arts, Senior, Lafayette
Mallory Simmons, Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, Junior, Duson
Navasha Singh, Environmental & Evolutionary Biology, Graduate School/College of Sciences, Doctoral Student, Tarzana, Calif.
Baron Spahr, Nursing, College of Nursing & Allied Health Professions, Senior, Gretna
Staff Members
Dr. James Anderson, English Department, 26 Year Employee, Lafayette
Dr. Kerry Carson, Management Department, 20 Year Employee, Lafayette
Dr. Barbara Cicardo, English Department, 42 Year Employee, Lafayette
Misty Landry, Communications & Marketing, 3 Year Employee., Lafayette
Mr. Joseph Savoy, Facilities Management, 16 Year Employee, Lafayette
Mr. Ray Veillon, UL Lafayette Foundation, 28 Year Employee, Youngsville
Mr. Gerald Waguespack, School of Music, College of the Arts, 4 Year Employee, Duson

Athletic Network Footnote:

Click here for the AN Obituary Page  http://www.athleticnetwork.net/site3408.php

 (In the History of UL Athletics), then click on the year and headlines of the obituary.