Goshen College to celebrate the life of Deanne Elizabeth Binde, a beloved student and community volunteer, during service and activities

WHAT: A memorial service and related activities for Deanne Elizabeth Binde, a Goshen College junior communication and theater major, who died on May 22, 2008.

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, starting at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Goshen College Church-Chapel, Umble Center and Newcomer Center

WHO: Students, faculty and staff of Goshen College and members of the Goshen community will be joined by Deanne's parents, Dale and Debbie Binde of Lake Park, Minn.

WHY: To remember a beloved classmate and member of the Goshen College community.

SCHEDULE:

7 p.m. – Memorial Service in Church-Chapel

9 p.m. – Theater highlights in Umble Center

11:30 p.m. – Dance with "Dee's Favorites" in Newcomer Center 19

BACKGROUND:

At the end of May Term, the Goshen College community suffered a tragic loss: Deanne Elizabeth Binde, a junior communication and theater major, died on May 22 in an automobile crash while driving home to Lake Park, Minn. The Minnesota State Patrol reported that Deanne's car drifted across Interstate Highway 94, struck the center median, overturned and was then struck by two other cars.

Deanne played the lead in the fall mainstage play "Step on a Crack" and in the spring she was in the cast of the mainstage play "Absolutely! {perhaps}." During May Term, she was the technical director assistant for the musical "Quilters." Deanne also was a DJ for The Globe, played on the softball team, recycled with Eco-PAX, and was a member of the Catholic Student Association. During the spring of her sophomore year, she participated in SST in the Dominican Republic. In the community she volunteered with Meals on Wheels and La Casa, and regularly attended St. John's Catholic Church.

Deanne's death prompted widespread expressions of love and support across campus and the community. However, what was most extraordinary was the outpouring of love and sorrow expressed on Deanne's online Facebook page, on a separate site set up by classmates and on a memorial Web page set up by the Public Relations Office at: www.goshen.edu/deanne-memorial. The tributes have continued.

On May 29, 38 students, faculty and staff attended Deanne's memorial service in Minnesota. Simultaneously, the college community gathered on the Umble Center stage to pray, sing and share memories of Deanne, while Study-Service Term (SST) units in Nicaragua, Perú and Senegal also paused for prayer.

Friday's activities will provide the first opportunity for all of Deanne's Goshen friends — from on and off campus — to gather, grieve and to celebrate her life. We expect that there will be sorrow and laughter as well as prayers and thanks offered to God for Deanne's life.

"We're really excited about the service, but we know there will be tears shed and there will be many tough moments," said Dale Binde. "We're also looking forward to meeting all of her friends."

"It will be a powerful experience," added Debbie Binde. "I just want God's name to be praised through it all. I just feel I'm on a mission with Deanne to make that happen."

RSVP:  If you plan on attending, please contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu or Director of Public Relations Richard R. Aguirre at (574) 535-7571 or rraguirre@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.