Jill Lucas, a senior business management major and member of the women's volleyball team at Tusculum, died of injuries suffered in a 3 p.m. traffic accident that same day on U.S. Highway 11E in Washington County. She was returning to the Greeneville campus from an internship with the United Way of Johnson City-Washington County when the accident occurred.

A popular student who had been at Tusculum since the fall of 1998, 21-year-old Jill also was an employee of the Applebee's restaurant in Greeneville, located near the Tusculum campus.

At the time of her death, a group of her friends and teammates were at the Johnson City Medical Center, having come there as soon as they received word of the accident. Also at the hospital were her coach, Beth Birky, as well as Tusculum President Dolph Henry and Dean of Students Scott Mashburn.

Word of her death deeply saddened the entire Tusculum community. Jill's family was on their way to Tusculum from Indiana at the time of Jill's passing away. To honor Jill's life, a memorial service was held for the entire college community in the Alpine Arena on the morning of Friday, Oct. 26.

Black-and-orange commemorative ribbons were given to all participants, and a Power Point slide presentation of scenes from Jill's college life was presented. Several individuals spoke of their fond memories of Jill. President noted in his remarks how the shock of Jill's unexpected death had brought the campus together as a community, and pledged that her memory

would continue to be treasured at Tusculum from now on.

Jill's family was at the service, and both her brother and sister spoke, sharing their own memories of Jill and thanking those at Tusculum who were supporting them in their time of sorrow. Jill is survived by her parents, Bill and Janell Lucas, and her brother Mark and sister Kim.

Also speaking at the emotional service were many of Jill's campus friends, as well as her co-workers from the restaurant. Her fellow members of the women's volleyball team played a major part in the service. The following weekend's home volleyball matches against Newberry College and Presbyterian College were postponed because of Jill's death. Funeral services for Jill were held the following week in Indiana and were attended by many from Tusculum.

To honor Jill, the Tusculum football team painted the number 11, the number Jill wore on the volleyball team, on the football field for the Oct. 27 game against Newberry. A moment of silence in her memory was also observed at the game, and the entire game was dedicated to her.

Jill came to the Tusculum campus in the fall of 1998 following a stellar prep career at Wes-Del High School. While at the school in Gaston, Ind., her hometown, she lettered four years in volleyball and basketball, earning All-District and All-County recognition in both. In 1998, she led her prep squad to Conference, Sectional and Region championships in volleyball and

Jill was a four-year starter for the Pioneers and a two-time All-South Atlantic Conference selection (1999, 2000). While at Tusculum, she played in 510 volleyball games averaging 2.77 kills and 2.29 digs per game. She also recorded 132 service aces and 455 career blocks.