UCC President Issues Statement

Saturday, October 10, 2015

GoLocalPDX News Team

President Rita Cavin

With classes starting on Monday, Oct. 12, Interim Umpqua Community College President Rita Cavin issues the following statement:

As we prepare for the return of classes on Monday, I want to share some thoughts about where our college has been and how we intend to return to our roles as educators and students.

First, I would like to thank everyone in our community, across Oregon and the millions of people who have joined the #IamUCC movement for their encouragement and support during this difficult time.

I also want to thank everyone who has donated to the Greater Douglas United Way and the Umpqua Community College Foundation. Your support truly touches us and will be remembered for generations to come.

This has been a heartbreaking week. Members of our college community are still reeling from what happened October 1, 2015. On that day, we lost our Umpqua Nine and other students were hurt physically and emotionally. We heard things that no one should ever have to hear. We saw things that no one should ever have to see. Our hearts ache.

Next week marks the return to class. Even as the faculty and staff have grieved for our Umpqua Nine, they have been working together this week to prepare for classes to resume on Monday. We are all so eager to return to teaching our students. Our students are eager to return to their studies.

Our lives have been forever changed but our spirit is strong. We are a community of dedicated professionals and students. We are resilient, resourceful and ready. We are UCC Strong.

On behalf of the whole UCC community, I want to thank everyone who has been supporting us through this difficult time.

Related Slideshow: The Victims of the Umpqua Community College Shooting

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Rebecka Ann Carnes

Rebecka Carnes, an 18-year-old freshman at Umpqua Community College was killed in Thursday's shooting, according to a Facebook post from her cousin, Lisa Crawford.

"I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to have watched Becka grow up," she wrote. "She had just started a new job and college classes. This isn't how life is supposed to work and I am struggling to wrap my mind around the entire situation."

Photo: Rebecka Carnes photo via Facebook

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Lucero Alcaraz

Lucero Alcaraz was killed at the age of 19 in the Umpqua Community College shooting. Alcaraz hoped to become a pediatric nurse, according to a Facebook post from her sister.

Photo: Rebecka Carnes, center, via Facebook

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Jason Dale Johnson

Jason Johnson was killed during the Umpqua Community College shooting at the age of 33. He was in class when he was killed and had just started school on Monday, according to his mother, who confirmed his death to NBC News.

Photo: Jason Johnson via Facebook

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Lucas Eibel

Lucas Eibel, 18, was killed in the Umpqua Community College shooting on Thursday. He was a quadruplet, with two sisters, according to his brother Mitchell, who confirmed Lucas' death to CNN.

Photo: Lucas Eibel, far left in the black shirt, via Facebook

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Kim Saltmarsh Dietz

Kim Dietz was killed in the shooting at Umpqua Community College, according to a Facebook post from her husband, Eric. Dietz' daughter is also a student at the school, but was unharmed in the shooting, according to Dietz' mother-in-law.

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Quinn Glen Cooper

Quin Cooper, 18, was killed in Thursday's shooting at Umpqua Community College. His father, Cody, established a GoFundMe page in his memory.

"Quinn is everything and he was loved by everyone," Cody wrote on the GoFundMe page. "He will be missed greatly by many, many people please remember him for his fun and witty nature and all of the fun he had with everyone."

Photo: Quinn Cooper via GoFundMe