Student remembered by faculty, students
By Maggie Rhynes
IV Leader Staff, May 5, 2005
Students, faculty and staff of Illinois Valley Community College gathered at noon Tuesday, to remember 18-year-old Chad Urnikis of Granville, who died April 22 of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Urnikis was a full-time student at IVCC and was an active member of POWER.
Many of the faculty and staff who worked with Urnikis in class and through campus activities remember him fondly, including Kim Abel, POWER sponsor. "Chad joined us when we spoke at area high schools, attempting to get the students thinking and talking about stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination,” she said.
After recalling that Chad had dedicated his time to speaking out against discrimination, Abel added that his death is a reminder to the group to continue their efforts.
"As a group, I think we find Chad's death a compelling reason to rededicate ourselves and redouble our efforts to speak out for acceptance and tolerance of people who are different." Abel said.
Urnikis was a student in Merri Mattison's Anthropology course. She remembered his as a kind and intelligent young man.
"I enjoyed his presence in class," she said. "He was bright and capable and did very well in my course."
Mattison too hoped that Urnikis' life and death would serve as a reminder to everyone.
"I would hope that Chad's death reminds us that despite our hectic, busy, schedules that we really do need to take care of each other, take time to say hello, acknowledge people with a nod, a wave, or a smile. We need to allow ourselves the time to be kind and considerate and we need to give others room to be their true and authentic selves," Mattison said.
Jessica Malooley, an IVCC student, knew Urnikis for less than a year, but in that short time he became her best friend. “He was my best friend and he was such a one of a kind person,” Malooley said.
“He was loved by so many people because of the fact that he was so unique, and that is so rare to find, and that’s what made him so amazing and that’s one of the reasons I loved him so much.”
Malooley and Urnikis worked together at The Limited in Peru Mall.
“He was fabulous, he was fashionable; all the ladies at The Limited loved him,” Malooley said.
Malooley noted that Urnikis’ death should remind us to be kind.
“We can be cordial to everyone,” she said. “Regardless of what we think we know about each other.”
While many of the students and staff at IVCC knew Urnikis for only a short time, it is clear he will be missed for a long time.
“I’ll miss his sweet smile and kind eyes,” Mattison said. “He was a good kid.”
Malooley added, “I will miss him forever.”