Several organizations joined together to remember the loss of former University student, Nicole Elizabeth Surace, during the Only the Good Fly Young Walk at Kessler Field on Sunday, April 6.
The attendees of the remembrance walk varied between several different towns including Milltown, Spotswood and East Brunswick, with a total of 300 participants.
On November 30, 2013, Nicole Surace, 18, and her boyfriend Jeffrey Szatkowski, 17, died when their vehicle struck a utility pole, according to a CBS report. Szatkowski was driving and lost control of the car. His vehicle split the pole in half, flipped over several times, hit a tree, and then landed upside down.
Police determined no drugs or alcohol were involved in the accident. Szatkowski was a football star at Spotswood High School, and Surace was a cheerleader. The teens were buried next to each other in Holy Cross Burial Park in South Brunswick.
The walk, held in Surace’s honor, raised over $11,000 said Kelly Parks, a sophomore business major and friend of Surace.
All of the proceeds that were raised from the Only the Good Fly Young walk will be used in an effort to raise $25,000 for an endowment scholarship at the University in Surace’s honor.
Diane Surace, Nicole’s mother, said supporters have five years to raise the $25,000 and, if they are successful, the scholarship will be awarded to a student at the University.
The walk began at 9 am and continued until 12:30 pm while a group of Surace’s supporters and family members walked around the University track in her honor. Catered food and music was offered for supporters to enjoy while completing the walk.
The parents of Surace were happy to have so many people attend the walk. “It is overwhelming to see everybody support our little angel Nicole,” Michael Surace, Nicole’s father, said as he thanked the supporters for attending. “Two birds were flying around earlier, so we know that was Nicole and Jeff watching over us,” he added.
Parks was involved in creating the walk and said, “We decided on a walk because we thought it would be a nice way to bring everyone together from both Nicole’s hometown and MU.” Several other friends of Nicole were also involved in the production of the walk, including Amanda Friedman and Alexis DeCarvalho.
“There are no combination of words I could use to express the feeling of looking down from the press box seeing all of those people there to support Nicole, Jeff, her family and friends,” explained DeCarvalho.
The Surace family took an honorary walk around the track by themselves to the song, “I Cross My Heart,” by George Strait. “It sent chills up my spine, it’s a feeling I’ll never forget,” said DeCarvalho.
Family, friends and supporters of all ages then joined in with the family to complete the remembrance walk.
According to Diane Surace, one of Nicole’s classes came to the walk and even purchased a brick through the Hawk Walk Brick Campaign to be laid in her memory. She was overwhelmed with gratitude for all the support the family had received. “It’s just wonderful,” she said.
Mary Anne Nagy, Vice President for Student and Community Services, also attended the walk to show her support. “I think it is wonderful to see Nicole’s friends and family come together to hold the walk to raise funds for a scholarship in her name,” said Nagy.
The creators of the walk hope to hold a second Only the Good Fly Young event, although it has not been confirmed.
“As for the future, we plan to continue walking for Nicole. Currently her family, my fellow event coordinators and I are working with the Lakewood BlueClaws in order to continue raising funds for Nicole and Jeff,” said DeCarvalho.
PHOTO TAKEN from NJ.com
