Always Remembered

Taken from the 2023-24 SWCC Mag
By Scott Vicker, marketing & institutional advancement specialist

The SWCC community spent the latter part of July 2023 and beyond grieving the loss of three beloved students as the result of a July 21 car accident at the intersection of Highway 34 and 190th Street, just east of Afton.

In the end, freshmen Ella Leonard, Halsie Barnes and Madalynn Stewart all died as a result of their injuries from the crash, leaving a void in the lives of their friends and families. Campus rallied together to honor each of their lives in a pair of candlelight vigil services, first to honor Ella and Halsie, and then to honor Maddie.

All three girls were active on campus, with Leonard on the dance team, Barnes on the softball team, and Stewart on both the dance and women’s basketball teams.

Their memories have been kept alive on campus by their respective teams. Head Softball Coach Danny Jensen had a large banner installed on SWCC’s dugout that reads, “Play Like Halsie! #27.” The dance team dedicated its jazz routine this year to Leonard and Stewart, and held its inaugural Ella & Maddie Showcase.

On Monday, Dec. 11, the women’s basketball team honored Stewart in a pregame ceremony that saw the team retire her No. 20 jersey. Head Coach Darien Wingate presented Stewart’s parents, Kevin Stewart and Julie Shields, with her framed jerseys. Each member of the opposing team for the game, Grand View University’s JV squad, placed a red carnation on the bench seat left empty in Stewart’s honor. The date of the game was chosen because it was 20 days before Stewart’s 20th birthday.

All three remain on their respective teams’ roster pages on the Southwestern athletics website.

A memorial has been constructed at the accident site, including three wooden crosses painted in white, with each of the girls’ names adorning a cross. Flowers and gifts surround each of the crosses, and a “happy birthday” crown rests atop Leonard’s cross. It’s a gentle reminder for passersby of the love their friends and families have for each of the girls.

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