Light is given in the most unexpected ways sometimes; often when we don’t know exactly where it is or how to receive it, but it’s there nonetheless. Grown from a valley, filled with the most fearless and free-flowing flowers, this light has given hope and strength to every single being it has touched. ______________________________________________________________________________________ It was a late Sunday evening, finals were approaching in just a few short weeks, and the campus was buzzing as students were trying to successfully make a close on spring semester and welcome the warm weather of summer. Ski season was still underway as the snow didn’t seem to stop falling and ski resorts kept pushing their closing weekends back further in April. The balancing act of life was at one of its highs, and everyone was ready to start another week of going through the motions. But as the universe tends to shift and the earth continues to take its trips around the sun - as do our lives. It was that Sunday evening, April 24, 2016 when a day that seemed to be just another day on the mountain in Breckenridge, turned into a night filled with unexplainable emotions by the loved ones of 20-year-old Colorado State University student, Catie Abeyta. Since then, time has passed. Much slower and harder for some, but there is one thing for certain – her legacy has only strengthened. The amount of love and light that has been shed on such a tragic event is something that should never go unnoticed, and what a better way to share such a beautiful life that Catie lived, than to create an event in honor of her. This fall, the Kappa Kappa Gamma chapter of Epsilon Beta at Colorado State University honored their sister Catie by creating a new philanthropy - Kamp Kappa, to raise money for the Catie Abeyta Scholarship Fund. “We hope to impact the community by coming together and spreading kindness. Being able to raise money to support someone will forever impact a life – like the way Catie impacted all of ours,” said Maty Montoya, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. The event was held at the chapter facility in Fort Collins, Colo. on Sept. 15, with about 200 people in attendance and 50 people showing up within the first five minutes. Demi Connelly, one of Catie’s best friends and former roommate, said she felt that the event “brought our whole community together, and visually seeing how many people attended the event really put things into perspective; it showed how much the community cared about our cause.” There is a light within the community that has brought people together because of Catie, and the impact and legacy she has left behind at CSU is far beyond anyone’s differences. Demi said, “Yes, what the event was focused around was obviously sad, but it impacted people in such a positive way that it was a friendly reminder that good things can come from bad situations.” Kamp Kappa’s s’mores station, hot dog bar, and twinkling lights surrounding the backyard were fitting for Catie’s love for the outdoors, and being surrounded by only good energy. She was passionate about skiing, school, family, friends, and meditation. “It’s hard to describe Catie in a few brief words but I would say Catie was lively, goofy, open-minded and motivated. She was adventurous and was always down to try something new, and was incredibly reliable when it came to following through with plans or keeping up with people,” Demi said. Celebrating someone extraordinary, filled with an abundance of light, and surrounded by so many beautiful flowers can’t be easy, but the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma found the perfect source to fill the community with her love. “The chapter has been very half and half, bringing a lot of emotions for some this week, but others are doing okay,” said Megan Agras, the Kappa Kappa Gamma President. “But everyone grieves in different ways.” She gave light to the fact that the event has brought the chapter together and made their sisterhood and the community so much stronger. “It’s truly amazing to see all of the endless support that we have received through last semester and this event,” Megan said. They have raised over $6,000 and their goal is to create a lifetime scholarship in Catie’s name - giving hope to another woman to have the chance to be a part of an organization and community that was so impactful for Catie. "My goal was to raise $6,000 and I was over the moon when we were able to reach that goal. I felt like Catie was looking down on us during the event. It would be something she would want because she was so genuine. I was so emotional at the end to see how my vision of Kamp Kappa came to life and how successful it was." - Hannah Persichitte, Philanthropy Chairman Maty reflected how, “There were so many smiles and laughs at the event. Catie really lived and she showed us how to live, and by coming together at Kamp Kappa we are reminded to live the way Catie did and take care of each other.”
After the event, Catie’s mom led a meditation for some of the girls at the house, just as Catie and her mom used to do together all the time. They shared a deep connection through meditation, and the girls who were able to participate in the guided meditation were amazed by the power of silence in the room. “It’s amazing how something as simple as silence can make you feel so close to the people around you,” Megan said. LeAnn, Catie’s mom, explained to the girls that she and Catie used to FaceTime at least every week and meditate together. Catie used to go to the Oval on CSU’s campus and just sit there while they meditated together. While meditating after Kamp Kappa, sitting in the most special room in the house for the Kappa Kappa Gamma sisterhood, LeAnn said that Catie was stuck in between two houses during recruitment. After meditating about it she decided Kappa was going to be her home away from home, because she felt in her heart that this was where she would find her people. “Getting to meditate with her mom was a wonderful experience since she shared her deepest connection with her daughter with all of us,” said Megan Agras. “It felt like everyone was breathing the same breaths and united in that moment.” Catie found her home away from home at Kappa Kappa Gamma almost two years ago, and will forever illuminate nothing but light against the darkest of walls for the whole community. To honor such a light, and give the praise and remembrance to where it is due doesn’t necessarily take something extravagant, but rather something so profound in the simplest of ways. Kamp Kappa is for someone who will never be forgotten in the valley of flowers, and only help us grow into the genuine individuals we are each meant to be. I think that’s what she was called here to do – to love people. And that light filled with love will only continue to prosper, as it is but a mere reminder of the beauty that is within, and a gift we can each learn from such a beautiful flower and light we were so lucky to know. ______________________________________________________________________________________
1 Comment
Nicole
9/26/2016 03:49:03 pm
Absolutely amazing, and so beautifully written Alex.
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