SUNY Canton Student Government Association executive officers unveil a new memorial at the school. From left, Devine Pearson, Khaina A. Solomon, Rachel “Nikki” Zeitzmann, Fatizjah Burnett and Lorraine Honeyghan.

CANTON -- SUNY Canton's Student Government Association (SGA) revealed a new monument Feb. 2, the Memorial Rock, in the campus Peace Garden.

The plaque on the rock says, “Forever Remembered, Forever Missed.”

"Student Elliot Mullings passed away days after the spring 2014 semester was over, so we began a new academic year with the loss still heavily lingering in everyone’s mind,” said SGA President Khaina A. Solomon. "We felt we needed to a place to grieve or celebrate the lives of those who have passed."

Mullings, a junior studying criminal justice, was very active and well known on campus. He died in May 2014. The memorial is dedicated to him and other students who have passed.

“We wanted to give something back to the campus,” Solomon said. “The association has been working on the memorial project for about two years, and with the help of many campus staff members and Northeastern Sign Corporation in Colton, it has come to life.”

A dedication ceremony for the rock included a poem from Mariama Cisse, a junior majoring in applied psychology; a song by Rebecca Jean-Baptiste, a junior majoring in liberal arts; and speeches by SGA executive officers Fatizjah Burnett and Rachel “Nikki” Zeitzmann.

Students plan to use the rock for Sept. 11 ceremonies and as a possible practice area for funeral services administration students.