Candlelight Vigil for Precious Newkirk

SUNY New Paltz community members gathered on March 12 at 5:30 p.m. outside of Hasbrouck Dining Hall to pay respects to Sodexo employee Precious Newkirk. Newkirk, 25, passed away on March 3, 2015 due to a car accident while traveling to work on Route 32. She was a well-known face to many within the SUNY New Paltz community. Many who knew Newkirk gathered to tell stories and memories that they shared and to memorialize her. Over 100 students as well as other Sodexo employees, family, and friends attended the memorial and candlelight vigil. Newkirk who was a well known employee at Hasbrouck Dining Hall worked at the desert and coffee station and always had a smile on her face. Those who gathered told stories about how she touched them with her kind heart and consideration.

A family member of Precious Newkirk stands with his head down as students and friends read off memorial statements and stories at the memorial and candlelight vigil. To memorialize her, hundreds of students, friends, and family gathered in a show of respect. Photo by Erica Blaize
Students belonging to the Student Association handed out white candles with wax guards to the crowd of students, family and friends to be lit in memorial for Precious Newkirk. Photo by Erica Blaize
Photo by Erica Blaize
Family of Precious Newkirk arriving with purple balloons to be handed out to the family and friends who gathered at the memorial and candle light vigil outside Hasbrouck Dining Hall. Purple was chosen because it was Newkirk’s favorite color; she unfortunately passed away on March 3 of a car accident on Route 32 while traveling to work. Photo by Erica Blaize
Sodexo director of resident Dining Maxwell Fuller walks around with a lighter to light candles out of respect for Precious Newkirk. Due to the heavy wind, participants of the vigil protect the lit candles with their hands to prevent the flame from going out. Photo by Erica Blaize
Students, friends, and family listen as Sodexo employee tells stories about Precious Newkirk at a memorial and candlelight vigil in her name. Photo by Erica Blaize
Students, friends, and family listen as Sodexo director of resident dining Maxwell Fuller recalls memories and the strong drive that Precious Newkirk had while working at Hasbrouck Dining hall. Photo by Erica Blaize
Family and friends of Precious Newkirk sat and stood together at the memorial and candlelight vigil. They held candles and purple balloons in her memory after she passed away from a car accident on her way to work. Photo by Erica Blaize