News Article

The Gonzaga University Student Body Association will honor the lives of Eva Khallaf, Matt Madison, and Ann Komadina, three Gonzaga students who passed away during the 2005-2006 academic year. The deaths of these students have deeply affected the Gonzaga community.

*Khallaf, who graduated magna cum laude from Gonzaga in 2005, died in a car accident in September 2005 in Warrenton, N.C., where she was teaching high school through the Teach for America program. Khallaf was president of the GU sophomore women’s service club the Setons in 2003-2004 and was the resident assistant of Welch Hall during 2004-05. An early graduate, Khallaf had planned to return to Spokane in May to take part in the commencement ceremonies with her class.

*Madison, a junior from Bozeman, Mont., died while on a trip to Scotland in early January of 2006, during his year at the Gonzaga-in-Florence (Italy) study abroad program. Madison, an avid golfer and an All-State high school golfer, died in a fall from a steep incline while trying to get a look at the legendary St. Andrews golf course.

*Komadina, a freshman from Reno, Nev., died in April from complications in emergency surgery. She was part of the Honors Program, was keenly interested in the environment and enjoyed tennis, watching movies with her mother and friends, and reading books by her favorite author Charlotte Bronte.

A memorial bench, adorned with flowers and a plaque recognizing Khallaf, will be located in the grassy area to the north of the glass entrance of Welch Hall. The unveiling of the bench will take place the day that Welch opens, on Aug. 25, when freshmen arrive.

GSBA is partnering with athletics to host the Matt Madison Memorial Golf Tournament that begins at 2 p.m., Sept. 10 at Indian Canyon Golf Course. The tournament will be added to the current intramural schedule and run each year as an intramural sport.

In memory of Komadina, emergency contact cards are being printed and will be given to each resident advisor to distribute to every on-campus student’s desk before they arrive. Each student will have one available to them in their room.

GSBA is sponsoring and funding all of the memorials. This year’s GSBA officers are dedicated to the student body and to meeting students’ needs, and are honored to recognize the lives of these Gonzaga students.

For more information about the memorials, please contact GSBA President Ben Folger at gsba-president@gonzaga.edu or at (509) 323-6874.