Adventurous – Sarah loved to explore the world around her and travel to new cities and countries with a curiosity about other people and cultures.

Dedicated – Sarah was a very driven and hard-working student and athlete who poured everything into her sport, studies, and community. She was committed to many charitable causes, student government, and her teams.

Loyal – Sarah was extremely loyal to her sisters, parents, larger family, friends, and teammates. Her loyalty often was seen in her advocacy for those close to her or even her devotion to the causes she believed in. She never wanted to disappoint those around her to who she was fiercely loyal and supportive.

Beautiful – Sarah had an incredible and alluring beauty to her spirit that was evident to all who knew her. She was also a tall, blonde, athletic force of nature who did not realize how stunningly gorgeous she was and often struggled to see her own beauty.

Humorous – Sarah had a wicked sense of humor and could be witty and sarcastic while also being goofy, whimsical, and self-deprecating, making fun of her clumsiness or awkwardness.

We chose to start a foundation in her name to carry on her legacy as a power for good in the community. The foundation reflects causes important to Sarah that she would want to be continued. As parents we are sharing her story to help other young people seek the mental health resources that might provide them assistance and to help other families to be aware of the struggles, especially for student-athletes. Sharing the story also provides us with some purpose to find some positive impact and healing coming from a terrible tragedy.

We hope that by talking about her story and bringing awareness, open conversations can be had without the stigma that causes many to suffer in silence. Working to prevent suicide requires talking about the issue and not avoiding the subject as difficult as it is at times. Speaking out will let others know they are not alone.