Members of the UVM community gathered on February 11 to celebrate the life of Kendra Bowers, who died February 1 in a tragic skiing accident. Kendra’s friends, colleagues, and professors filled the Livak Ballroom in the Davis Center to share their favorite memories and stories.

Kendra was a sophomore Environmental Sciences major in the Rubenstein School and lived in the Health and Wellness Residential Learning Community. She was also a member of Zest a cappella group.

Annie Stevens, Vice Provost of Student Affairs, and Allan Strong, Associate Dean of RSENR, spoke at the service along with Ariana Cano, a teaching assistant for one of Kendra’s classes, and Britt LeBron-Brien, Kendra’s roommate. Zest a cappella sang for the audience and shared their favorite stories about Kendra, and Kendra’s dorm-mates played a video they had made for the occasion.

Following an opportunity for friends in the audience to share memories, Annie Stevens closed the service by reading a letter from Kendra’s family, who were amazed by and grateful for the outpouring of support and sympathy they have received from the UVM community.

Friends described Kendra as always laughing, full of joy, passionate, friendly, loyal, and exceptionally outgoing. Kendra will be deeply missed, both in the Rubenstein community and far beyond.