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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.<\/p>\n
Photo by Lucia Campos<\/a><\/p>\n Prem Patel often spoke about his plans for the future, even in everyday moments.<\/p>\n On the way home from a robotics competition, he talked with his aunt, Dipti Desai, about what lay ahead\u00a0\u00a0\u2014 college, engineering and the goals he hoped to achieve.<\/p>\n \u201cHe shared what he\u2019s looking forward to, going to UTA, and shared his aspirations and dreams in that car ride from Waco back to Fort Worth,\u201d Desai said.<\/p>\n Patel, however, died at 18. He had planned to study mechanical engineering at the university, Desai said.<\/p>\n He was one of 56 Mavericks honored through A Fallen Maverick event April 10. Hosted by the UTA Ambassadors, the program ensures the deceased\u2019s names are spoken and their stories are not forgotten.<\/p>\n Families, friends, faculty and staff members filled Legacy Hall at the Fraternity and Sorority Life Community Center to remember those who have died.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wasn\u2019t just a student here; he was one of our own, he was one of our family members,\u201d Mr. UTA Harshdeep Singh said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a community,\u201d Singh said. \u201cWe care for the people here, and they\u2019re always going to be a part of us, no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n Desai, who attended the event with other loved ones, said Patel was always up for an adventure.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cI Will Always Love You\u201d by Whitney Houston.<\/p>\n Photo by Lucia Campos<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe was very active,\u201d she said. \u201cAlways wanted to learn something, do something or go somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Desai described him as someone who brought confidence to his friends and acted as a light on boring days.<\/p>\n \u201c[He] allowed people to share in his joys and his happy moments and wanted to be a part of their solution,\u201d Desai said. \u201cHe was always willing to help others.\u201d<\/p>\n While the fallen Mavericks roll call was read aloud, quiet tears filled the eyes of Patel\u2019s family. The community held up small beige candles and sat in a moment of silence.<\/p>\n \u201cThe individuals we honor tonight were the heartbeat of our campus,\u201d Ms. UTA Sraavya Maulika Yenugapalli said in a speech during the event. \u201cThey were the students who sat beside us in the library, the professors who challenged our perspectives and the mentors who guided our steps.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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