MOSCOW, Idaho – Construction of the University of Idaho Vandal Healing Garden is about wrapped in the small college town.
The memorial garden honors and remembers Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Maddison Mogen, who were all killed in their off-campus home on Nov. 13, 2022.
The healing garden will also honor all other University of Idaho (U of I) students who have died in years past.
This project was spearheaded by U of I students—from fundraising to the design of the healing garden to the actual construction. NonStop Local KHQ hosted a Connect Center in January 2023 to help the Associated Students of the University of Idaho (ASUI) and Vandal Solutions sell Vandal Strong bracelets, which ultimately funded this project.
“What happened Nov. 13th was one of the most massively traumatic experiences that most of us had ever experienced,” Martha Smith, ASUI president, said Wednesday.
It’s been nearly two years since the tight-knit community lost the four students, but their memories continue to live on and now will live on for decades to come.
“Knowing that I might provide a little bit of hope and comfort for someone that might be going through something is really important,” Harper Drake, a U of I architecture graduate student, said.
Drake has been helping with the project for the past couple of months.
“How do we present the liveliness of these people? They may be gone now, but we don’t want to lose that amazing spirit that each of these individuals had,” Drake said.
The garden is filled with bright, beautiful colors.
This memorial wall allows people to write thoughts and memories of the students who have passed away.
“This main pavilion will have the main memorial sculpture dedicated to the four as well as these interactive niches along the west side,” Ryan Lorensen, a U of I architecture graduate student said.
The architecture students have been working hard over the past year for this project to come to fruition, and for them, it’s inspiring to know the effect their work will have.
“I think it’ll have a pretty big impact. I think that this will become that place the community wants and needs,” John Gross, a U of I architecture graduate student, said.
It’s a place to remember the four victims and all of the other Vandals that have passed away.
“It’s going to be so amazing to see it be done and be like ‘we did that. Moscow needs it, and the Vandals need it,” Drake said.
The project is expected to wrap up next week. The students want to thank everyone who donated to make this Vandal Healing Garden possible.
