UTA Ambassadors hold candles during A Fallen Maverick on April 10 in Legacy Hall at the Fraternity and Sorority Life Community Center. Several campus leaders spoke and performed at the event.
Prem Patel often spoke about his plans for the future, even in everyday moments.
On the way home from a robotics competition, he talked with his aunt, Dipti Desai, about what lay ahead — college, engineering and the goals he hoped to achieve.
“He shared what he’s looking forward to, going to UTA, and shared his aspirations and dreams in that car ride from Waco back to Fort Worth,” Desai said.
Patel, however, died at 18. He had planned to study mechanical engineering at the university, Desai said.
He was one of 56 Mavericks honored through A Fallen Maverick event April 10. Hosted by the UTA Ambassadors, the program ensures the deceased’s names are spoken and their stories are not forgotten.
Families, friends, faculty and staff members filled Legacy Hall at the Fraternity and Sorority Life Community Center to remember those who have died.
“He wasn’t just a student here; he was one of our own, he was one of our family members,” Mr. UTA Harshdeep Singh said.
“We are a community,” Singh said. “We care for the people here, and they’re always going to be a part of us, no matter what.”
Desai, who attended the event with other loved ones, said Patel was always up for an adventure.
UTA ambassador Juliet Cruz, a public relations freshman, sings during A Fallen Maverick on April 10 in Legacy Hall at the Fraternity and Sorority Life Community Center. Cruz performed the song “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston.
“He was very active,” she said. “Always wanted to learn something, do something or go somewhere.”
Desai described him as someone who brought confidence to his friends and acted as a light on boring days.
“[He] allowed people to share in his joys and his happy moments and wanted to be a part of their solution,” Desai said. “He was always willing to help others.”
While the fallen Mavericks roll call was read aloud, quiet tears filled the eyes of Patel’s family. The community held up small beige candles and sat in a moment of silence.
“The individuals we honor tonight were the heartbeat of our campus,” Ms. UTA Sraavya Maulika Yenugapalli said in a speech during the event. “They were the students who sat beside us in the library, the professors who challenged our perspectives and the mentors who guided our steps.”
A screen displays a slideshow of those remembered at A Fallen Maverick on April 10 in Legacy Hall at the Fraternity and Sorority Life Community Center. Fifty-seven Mavericks were honored at the memorial.
Lowell Davis, vice president of Student Affairs, said the lives honored during the event continue to matter in the way they shaped the people around them, the friendships they fostered and the moments they were a part of.
“Tonight is one of those moments where words never quite feel like enough, because what we are acknowledging is not just loss in the general sense,” Davis said during a speech at the event. “Their absence is not just something you think about — it is something you feel.”
Davis said the university is a place where people matter, not just because of what they do or achieve, but for who they are.
On Maulika Yenugapalli’s lap sat a small pink book gifted to the UTA Ambassadors by Patel’s grandmother. The book, Maulika Yenugapalli said, was Patel’s grandmother’s way of honoring his legacy and celebrating him.
“They made this for their family and close friends,” Maulika Yenugapalli said. “To give us the first copy really means a lot to us.”
As the evening came to a close and the candles dimmed, Patel’s family remained surrounded by those who came to remember him. In the quiet moments after the ceremony, hugs lingered and soft smiles danced around the room.
“I’m happy that UTA gave a chance to honor him,” Desai said through tears.
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