Today@Sam Article
Annual Tradition Of Raven’s Call Set For April 1
March 11, 2022
SHSU Media Contact: Hannah Crandall
Continuing a tradition of honoring the legacy left by Bearkats who are gone but not forgotten, the Sam Houston State University Orange Keys will host Raven’s Call on Friday, April 1 at noon at the Ron & Ruth Blatchley Bell Tower.
This annual event is held to celebrate the lives of students, faculty, staff, retired faculty/staff and alumni. The 2022 ceremony will include honorees who have passed between March 1, 2021 and Jan. 31, 2022.
“Raven’s Call is a keystone tradition here at Sam Houston State University, as we come together to recognize and give remembrance to the students, faculty and staff who have passed away within the previous year,” said Orange Keys President Juan Hernandez. “One of my favorite aspects about this tradition is that Raven’s Call illustrates how the university is not just an institution, but a home and community for many.”
The 2020 ceremony was canceled, and the 2021 ceremony was pre-recorded and broadcast online. The 2022 ceremony will allow Bearkats to show their support for honorees’ loved ones and honor their lives in-person.
“With this year being in person, this ceremony will allow families to see the immersive support systems that exist at Sam Houston State,” Hernandez said. “In a way to remember those who have passed, I always ask what their favorite memory is of that person. Almost every time, I get to see the families’ faces brighten up as they express their favorite memories with joy. I believe as students and families experience this event, our Bearkat family will continue to be brought closer together.”
Each honoree’s name is called one-by-one at the ceremony, at which time the Orange Keys place a white or orange carnation inside the Raven’s Call monument to remember each life. The monument was designed by the Orange Keys, and the solemn ceremony offers a meaningful connection between the honorees’ families and the university.
“With Raven’s Call, we hope that each family will recognize that they too will always be part of the Bearkat community,” Hernandez explained. “If I could say one thing to each family, it would be this. ‘Remember that you are not alone. You have a home here at Sam Houston State University and will always have a place in our Bearkat family.’”
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