SF State Housing and Residential Services hosted a memorial Aug.31 for 17-year-old Kevin Costello, a SF State freshman who died that morning after injuries he sustained while on a University-sponsored Presidential Scholar field trip.

Most of the 182 people in attendance at the memorial were freshmen students living in the dorms, a few residential advisers and members of the faculty also attended. Admittedly, only a handful of those present ever got a chance to meet Costello. He was a sixth-floor resident of Mary Ward Hall for less than a week.

Costello died when he slipped while taking pictures with his new digital camera.

“Kevin was introduced to me on paper, in application form,” Gail Whitaker, associate vice president of academic program development, said at the memorial service. She reviews and advises President Corrigan on applicants for the Presidential Scholar award.

“I checked his application and it had all the stellar numbers,” she said. Whitaker noted that she saw no grade less than an A – on Costello’s transcripts. She also read a recommendation letter from Jeremy Rubenstein, Costello’s former English teacher at North Monterey County High School. He wrote that Costello earned the only A+ he had ever given.

Costello was a straight-A student who loved music, surfing and photography. “In college I plan to study the sciences, particularly marine biology,” wrote Costello in his Presidential Scholar application. He also wrote that he hoped to document oceanographic research by using his own photographs.

Sarah Calhoun, a Presidential Scholar who was with Costello when he slipped, spoke at the memorial. She said Costello was “amazing, brilliant…” and he was “eager to live and love.”

William Greene, Costello’s roommate in Mary Ward Hall, also spoke at the service. “I didn’t know him all too well, maybe a week, but he was a cool guy,” said Greene. “It really sucks but that’s life. I won’t ever forget him. I knew we were going to be pals all through college.”

Because the first day to move into the dorms on campus was Aug. 22, only six days prior to Costello’s accident, most residents and staff never got to know him.

“When I first got notice of the event I had a hard time dealing with it because when they said Kevin Costello I had such a hard time putting the face to the name,” said Wesley Burford, Costello’s sixth-floor resident adviser.

During the open microphone section of the memorial DJ Morales, director of residential life, invited students to share thoughts and memories.

“I did not have the opportunity to meet him and I feel that was my loss,” said the first student who spoke. “Our loss was really his potential.”

Raymond Pestrong, SF State professor of geology and faculty director of the Presidential Scholars Program, was on the field trip with Costello. He told the audience that he was sitting directly opposite Costello on the bus to the Marin Headlands. He said he remembered the student was sprawled out and had taken up both seats.

“I could have spoken to him and I didn’t and that’s a terrible loss,” said Pestrong to the audience. “In that few minutes I could have made a connection and that’s my loss. Completely unaware of it of course.” The professor then went on to say, “I am in a state of complete shock.”

Pestrong, like most speakers during the memorial, suggested to the audience that they take the opportunity to reach out and say hello to someone when they have the chance.

“I urge you to be kind to one another. It’s what makes a community and we have one here,” he said to the room full of mostly new students.

Courtney Oxen, a fellow Presidential Scholar who was also on the field trip, echoed Pestrong’s sentiments. “Absolutely nothing is permanent,” she said.

“Cherish every second, make sure that when you see that person stop and say hi because who knows if you’ll have that chance again.”

Of the almost one dozen speakers at the memorial, only a group of three students who went up to the microphone together really knew Costello. The two men and one woman grew up with Costello on the central coast of California.

Westin Chu spoke to the audience about his memories of playing hockey and snowboarding with Costello. The woman shared a memory of Costello teaching her how to surf.

“I’m sure he would really appreciate all you guys coming out,” said Chu, who is also a student at SF State.