10/22/2015 4:18:00 PM | Football, Women's Rowing
By Alex Keator
2015-16 Remembrance Week Activities
Seniors Cameron MacPherson and Julie Bengis never met Syracuse University students Thomas Schultz or Mark Tobin. They studied at Syracuse in a different century and hailed from different hometowns. They are, however, connected. The bond they share is one that few have the opportunity to experience. MacPherson and Bengis are 2015-16 Remembrance Scholars, one of the greatest honors and responsibilities Syracuse University students can receive. The prestige brings responsibility to represent one of the 35 Syracuse University students who were killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21, 1988.
"The day I learned about his death, we had lived the exact same number of days," said MacPherson of Thomas Schultz, the victim he was chosen to represent. "I want to continue that legacy for him and honor his life and live out a life that he wasn't able to."
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Bengis, who competes on the women's rowing team, represents Mark Tobin, a young man who wished to be a sports broadcaster before his life was tragically taken aboard Pan Am 103. As sport management major, Bengis feels a connection to Tobin through the pursuit of a career in the sports industry. She hopes to continue Tobin's legacy by taking to every endeavor with optimism.
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"Thirty five Syracuse University lives taken, and 270 overall," Bengis said. "There could have, and would have, been great things accomplished by those people. The fact that we continue to remember says that, 'You are not going to take anything else from us.'"
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The Remembrance Scholars are awarded a scholarship that is among the most prestigious awarded by the University and were founded in 1990 as a tribute to and means of remembrance for the 270 people who were killed. The 35 Syracuse University students were returning to the United States from a semester of study abroad. Since the inception of the program, 22 Syracuse student-athletes have been honored as Remembrance Scholars.
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"As a native of Syracuse this tragedy has sort of been a part of my life since I was born," said MacPherson, a senior on the football team who is a dual major in Newhouse and the College of Arts & Sciences. "It's really an honor to be able to carry on that tradition and to be able to honor those victims whose lives were lost in the Pan Am 103 bombing. It's such an honor responsibility as a Scholar to carry on that tradition to commemorate those victims and to continue the work of past Scholars who have done a tremendous job in the community."
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Remembrance Scholars are chosen in their junior year through a rigorous and competitive process. Applicants for the Remembrance Scholarship are asked to highlight their University activities, including community service. Candidates write an essay and are interviewed by members of the selection committee. MacPherson and Bengis agreed upon their role as student-athletes complementing their mission as scholars.
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"When I was applying for this honor, I realized that these students who died should have kids of their own who are applying for admission to Syracuse University as legacy applicants, but instead we are honoring lives that were cut short that never had the chance to fully develop," MacPherson said. "It's important to remember what we are doing this for. It's to educate the community about terrorism and the event."
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Remembrance Week is a special time on campus. It kicks off at the Syracuse football game against Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 24 (12 pm, ESPNU) when Bengis, MacPherson and the rest of the 2015-16 Remembrance Scholars will be honored on the field and a moment of silence will be observed by all in attendance. The full week of public events culminates with the Remembrance Convocation at Hendricks Chapel on Friday, October 30 at 2:30 pm.
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The Scholars have planned a 'Celebration of Life' for Thursday, October 29 at 7 pm in the Panasci Lounge at the Schine Student Center.
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"The 'Celebration of Life' event is an open mic activity," MacPherson said. "A night of music and poetry. It is going to be fun, but also will be grounded in the reality of the event – celebrating lives that were cut short."
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Throughout the week, a display of chairs, representing where Syracuse's 35 student sat on Pan Am 103, will be set up on the Shaw Quadrangle.
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"I think the most meaningful activity that takes place during Remembrance Week to me is the display of the chairs on the Quad," Bengis said. "It's a moment where you can't miss it. It is right in the middle of campus. It is 35 chairs set up in the places where the Syracuse University students were sitting on the plane when they died. It's really powerful and striking to see.
"I think if you graduate from Syracuse having not taken the time to learn about this event, then you are doing a disservice to the University."
2015-16 Remembrance Week Activities
Seniors Cameron MacPherson and Julie Bengis never met Syracuse University students Thomas Schultz or Mark Tobin. They studied at Syracuse in a different century and hailed from different hometowns. They are, however, connected. The bond they share is one that few have the opportunity to experience. MacPherson and Bengis are 2015-16 Remembrance Scholars, one of the greatest honors and responsibilities Syracuse University students can receive. The prestige brings responsibility to represent one of the 35 Syracuse University students who were killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21, 1988.
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"The day I learned about his death, we had lived the exact same number of days," said MacPherson of Thomas Schultz, the victim he was chosen to represent. "I want to continue that legacy for him and honor his life and live out a life that he wasn't able to."
Â
Bengis, who competes on the women's rowing team, represents Mark Tobin, a young man who wished to be a sports broadcaster before his life was tragically taken aboard Pan Am 103. As sport management major, Bengis feels a connection to Tobin through the pursuit of a career in the sports industry. She hopes to continue Tobin's legacy by taking to every endeavor with optimism.
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"Thirty five Syracuse University lives taken, and 270 overall," Bengis said. "There could have, and would have, been great things accomplished by those people. The fact that we continue to remember says that, 'You are not going to take anything else from us.'"
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| Syracuse Student-Athlete Remembrance Scholars | ||
| 1990-91 | Ann Abrahamson | Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 1991-92 | None | |
| 1992-93 | None | |
| 1993-94 | None | |
| 1994-95 | John Gondak | Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 1995-96 | Stace Nyland | Volleyball |
| Rachel Sears | Cross Country/Track & Field | |
| 1996-97 | Jennifer Murphy | Volleyball |
| Tamara Zettler | Rowing | |
| 1997-98 | None | |
| 1998-99 | None | |
| 1999-2000 | Dylan Malagrino | Swimming |
| 2000-01 | Sara Mastropole | Swimming |
| 2001-02 | Rachel Kirchoff | Rowing |
| 2002-03 | Eric Chapman | Soccer |
| Carrie Klotz | Soccer | |
| 2003-04 | Dalton Beaver | Field Hockey |
| 2004-05 | None | |
| 2005-06 | Brien Flewelling | Track & Field |
| Kevin Kopko | Football | |
| Sheila Menz | Soccer | |
| 2006-07 | None | |
| 2007-08 | Jillian Drouin | Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 2008-09 | Nana Bulaba Sang-Bender | Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 2009-10 | Eileen Finn | Lacrosse |
| 2010-11 | Katie Lewinski | Swimming |
| 2011-12 | None | |
| 2012-13 | None | |
| 2013-14 | None | |
| 2014-15 | Sam Rodgers | Football |
| 2015-16 | Julie Bengis | Rowing |
| Cameron MacPherson | Football | |
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"As a native of Syracuse this tragedy has sort of been a part of my life since I was born," said MacPherson, a senior on the football team who is a dual major in Newhouse and the College of Arts & Sciences. "It's really an honor to be able to carry on that tradition and to be able to honor those victims whose lives were lost in the Pan Am 103 bombing. It's such an honor responsibility as a Scholar to carry on that tradition to commemorate those victims and to continue the work of past Scholars who have done a tremendous job in the community."
Â
Remembrance Scholars are chosen in their junior year through a rigorous and competitive process. Applicants for the Remembrance Scholarship are asked to highlight their University activities, including community service. Candidates write an essay and are interviewed by members of the selection committee. MacPherson and Bengis agreed upon their role as student-athletes complementing their mission as scholars.
Â
"When I was applying for this honor, I realized that these students who died should have kids of their own who are applying for admission to Syracuse University as legacy applicants, but instead we are honoring lives that were cut short that never had the chance to fully develop," MacPherson said. "It's important to remember what we are doing this for. It's to educate the community about terrorism and the event."
Â
Remembrance Week is a special time on campus. It kicks off at the Syracuse football game against Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 24 (12 pm, ESPNU) when Bengis, MacPherson and the rest of the 2015-16 Remembrance Scholars will be honored on the field and a moment of silence will be observed by all in attendance. The full week of public events culminates with the Remembrance Convocation at Hendricks Chapel on Friday, October 30 at 2:30 pm.
Â
The Scholars have planned a 'Celebration of Life' for Thursday, October 29 at 7 pm in the Panasci Lounge at the Schine Student Center.
Â
"The 'Celebration of Life' event is an open mic activity," MacPherson said. "A night of music and poetry. It is going to be fun, but also will be grounded in the reality of the event – celebrating lives that were cut short."
Â
Throughout the week, a display of chairs, representing where Syracuse's 35 student sat on Pan Am 103, will be set up on the Shaw Quadrangle.
Â
"I think the most meaningful activity that takes place during Remembrance Week to me is the display of the chairs on the Quad," Bengis said. "It's a moment where you can't miss it. It is right in the middle of campus. It is 35 chairs set up in the places where the Syracuse University students were sitting on the plane when they died. It's really powerful and striking to see.
"I think if you graduate from Syracuse having not taken the time to learn about this event, then you are doing a disservice to the University."
Players Mentioned
Sunday, October 25
Sunday, October 25
Sunday, October 25
Saturday, October 24
