Welcome
The Carolina Memorial Dedication Ceremony
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 - Hornbake Plaza at 3:00pm.
• Read the press release
• View Ceremony Photos
As members of a top-tier state institution we sometimes overlook or fail to acknowledge how fortunate we are to have a proactive student body, a wide variety of campus organizations that enhance the campus culture, and policy makers that actually care about making a difference. Many of these efforts on campus improve the overall University experience for students, but they also benefit the campus staff, administrators, and academic departments and other integral pieces to the complex puzzle that makes up our University of Maryland campus. This past Summer 2007 our campus had to deal with the loss of Carolina Rojas-Bahr. She was instrumental in helping make sure students in the various minority communities on our campus had the resources necessary to excel as students, to develop personally, and to be properly prepared for life beyond college.
Carolina's importance to the overall University was evident at her memorial service, when a grand turnout was received. Beyond what she did on our campus, Carolina's sudden loss was of course felt the deepest by her family. Survived by Nicholas Bahr and children, they were first hand witnesses of Carolina's devotion and efforts to assistance when possible, even to those not in her core family. For these reasons and many more, La Unidad Latina felt that a more permanent reminder of her contributions to the campus community was deserved so that her legacy as a pillar of the Latino community could be properly honored and remembered.
The original idea was to have a plaque placed near OMSE in her memory, so that people could remember the significant impact she had on our campus. After Carolina's loss sunk in, we did not think just a plaque would do justice. We thought an additional, more symbolic reminder of her was deserved. Ultimately, it was decided to request that a tree be added in her tribute because trees are universal symbols of life & strength – serving as a link between the earthly below, the underworld, and the infinite heavens above.
Currently, the university has approved the placement of a plaque and a tree, but the location and final cost has not been determined. General estimates put the planting of the tree and the production/placement of the plaque close to $2,000 - not an easy amount to fundraise by any means.
Hopes are that enough individuals, organizations, and departments will come together so that her memorial can be one befitting of her work as a mother, wife, and leader of our campus community. In order to make these efforts successful we will be calling upon those who were influenced, inspired, and challenged by Carolina herself or the work she did in the Latino community. If the goal to fully pay for a memorial comes to fruition, any additional money will go towards McCormick Elementary (a school Carolina had strong ties with) or a charitable cause chosen by her family.
Anyone wishing to make an immediate donation can do so by any of the payment options above. If you are unable to donate, but still wish to contribute or assist in this effort in other ways, please feel free to .
Sincerely,
The Hermanos (Brothers) of Phi Chapter
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