What does it mean to leave a legacy? Two years after the Dec. 6 campus shooting, the answer is clear for the legacies of Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, Naoko Takemaru, and Patricia Navarro Velez.

Though their names are indelibly tied to tragedy, the three faculty members our campus lost that day were remembered by students and colleagues for their many moments of encouragement at the Remembrance and Healing Ceremony on Saturday morning. Their legacy — one of compassion and hope — will one day bloom in a garden UNLV is creating in their honor. 

"The three faculty members we lost that day were known for their incredible passion, for their mission, for their teaching, for their friendship, for their kindness,” interim President Chris Heavey told the 250 people attending the ceremony. “What will define us is how we show that light and their spirit in the continuing work we do … Their tragedy will never be erased, but they will always have us in their corner.”

Along with reflections from faculty and students, Saturday’s event included the unveiling of the Faculty Senate’s proposed Healing Garden and December 6th Memorial and the presentation of new memorial artwork from CSUN student leaders. 

The event also recognized the resilience of professor Daraboth “Bot” Rith, who was critically wounded, and all members of the community whose lives were impacted by the shooting. “We honor law enforcement and the first responders who bravely guided us through unthinkable moments, and the many individuals across campus, throughout Las Vegas, and beyond who stepped forward with support, compassion, and unwavering care,” acting Provost Kate Korgan said.

Students Offer Tributes to Their Kindness

The inaugural recipients of the memorial scholarships established in each professor’s name shared the personal impact the professors had on them.

“[They] were so much more than teachers standing at the front of the classroom,” said Mark Robles, a current graduate student and a recipient of the scholarship in honor of Chang. “For us, they represented all that we — ourselves — could become. … As I move forward in my career, I plan to be the kind of UNLV graduate who gives back to our Rebel community. It is how I will honor Dr. Chang’s legacy.” 

Kayla Cornwell, who received the Dr. Takemaru scholarship, added, “Through her class, I became spellbound by the kindness and power that exists across languages. I finally knew, for certain, that a career using and speaking Japanese was what I truly desired. And I am forever grateful to Takemaru sensei for helping me realize that.” 

Cornwell also read a statement from Sonia Plascencia Zacarias, who found in Navarro Velez a first-generation role model and continual words of encouragement. “Dr. Navarro set me up to have the confidence and courage to go on for my master’s,” she stated, “and now I’m graduating [this month] and have a position lined up.”

“So for all the other faculty and staff here today,” Robles concluded, “please know how powerful you are. Through your own successes — but especially through your encouragement — you inspire students like us to believe that we can succeed too.”

Healing Garden Unveiled

The UNLV Faculty Senate’s December 6 Memorial Committee revealed the design selected for a new Healing Garden, to be built between Hospitality Hall and the Barrick Museum and connected to the Baepler Xeric Garden. 

“This beautiful garden will be a tranquil, healing place, a meaningful tribute to everything we lost that day, but also a reminder of the heroism, compassion, and resilience of our community,” said Sarah Quigley, who co-chaired the committee. “In its shade, may we find healing; in its growth, may we find strength; in its spaces, may we find hope.”

Quigley described the centerpiece of the garden as a flower with four petals, each representing the three professors killed and one injured. Descriptive markers and quotes will tell their stories, and a carefully curated plant palette will reflect their personalities and cultural heritage. 

A large tree in each section will offer shade and a comforting sense of shelter. For Chang, a Meyer lemon tree was chosen; a prairie sumac for Takemaru; a desert museum palo verde for Velez; and a Utah juniper for Rith. At the center of the petals is a large cedar elm, in tribute to the responders who helped restore the campus to safety and heal from grief.

The comprehensive process for choosing the design included a campus survey and two days of visioning sessions, giving all stakeholders a chance to share ideas early in the process. The decision to include Rith’s story of recovery and hope emerged from those sessions. The team also sought the input of the victims’ family members as well as the Resiliency and Justice Center, which formed after the 1 October shooting in Las Vegas. 

“We also knew it was important to create something that could carry us into the future and be a meaningful place for future students and faculty who have no connection to December 6th,” Quigley said in an interview before the remembrance ceremony. 

The committee worked with UNLV Planning & Construction and the Gensler Las Vegas and LAGE architecture and landscape design firms to develop three concepts.

“I think the ‘Bloom’ design emerged as the favorite because of its peaceful simplicity and focus on beautiful landscaping,” said Deborah Bergin, UNLV’s director of planning and facility partnerships. “I also think the designers did a wonderful job recognizing the individuals through these distinct spaces while also telling the story of our community through the meandering paths that will lead you through the garden.”

The UNLV Foundation has launched the fundraising campaign for both monetary and in-kind donations. The garden will be built in three phases, starting after funds have been raised for the central section (about $1.4 million).

Phases II and III will create entrances and integrate the space with the walkway to the south of the garden. Total project costs are estimated at $2.5 million.

Visit the UNLV Strong website for further details on the UNLV Healing Garden and December 6th Memorial.