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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 9/26/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
September 12, 2007 Friends, family celebrate Xiong at UWGB memorial University senior found dead in her car July 27 after being missing for 2 weeks By Corinthia McCoy
"I would describe her smile as the most warm smile," said Peter Xiong, public relations representative for the Southeast Asian Student Union at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
"That smile always made everybody happy."
The Southeast Asian Student Union hosted a memorial to celebrate Xiong's life Tuesday in the Phoenix Rooms on campus. Xiong was the president of the association and a senior at the university.
Xiong, 21, of Green Bay, was found dead in her rental car submerged in the Fox River, north of the Don A. Tilleman Bridge on July 27. She was reported missing after a night out with friends on July 13.
"It's a smile that will light everybody else up, especially when you see it everyday," said Malee Xiong, Mahalia Xiong's younger sister.
It was a smile that caused Xiong's other sister, Melissa Sinitsky, to think about her laughter during slideshow.
Sue Hammersmith, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, presented Xiong's family with two certificates — one for Xiong's progress toward her degree and the other naming Xiong as an honorary alumna.
"Even though she hasn't reached all of her dreams and goals, she is done, she really is," Sinitsky said.
Sinitsky said the memorial brought back horrible feelings of losing Xiong but was thankful to the university for honoring her. The celebration fell on the same day as the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks when hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.
Peter Xiong — no relation to Mahalia Xiong — said the timing was unintentional.
"We really wanted a different day," Peter Xiong said.
He said the student organization tried to change the date. When that wasn't possible, the group sent letters to local law enforcement agencies to apologize for any inconvenience the celebration would cause and to notify agencies that it had no intention to take away from the day's significance.
A moment of silence was held in memory of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks before the Xiong ceremony began.
"It was nice because we haven't gotten the chance to celebrate her life," Malee Xiong said.
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