Memorial For Downers Grove North Student Moved From Crosswalk

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — A makeshift memorial for Downers Grove North junior Beth Dunlap that was set up near the crosswalk where she was hit by a car outside of the school has been moved at the request of her family. Principal Janice Schwarze told students Monday that the Dunlap family wants their daughter to be remembered, not for the place where she was fatally injured, but for the things she loved in life.

Schwarze said the memorial has been moved to the building's Athletic Entrance to pay tribute to Dunlap's love of volleyball. Dunlap played as #18 for the school's varsity volleyball team, helping lead them to multiple victories.

"While we do not typically allow memorials for students on campus, because this tragedy happened here at school, we are making an exception. We believe this new location better represents Beth’s life because it is our Athletic Entrance," Schwarze told students, staff, and parents.

Schwarze also offered words of support to grieving students, no matter how they are dealing with the loss. "Some are sad, some are angry, and some are numb. It is important to know that everyone handles grief differently, and that is okay."

She said that teachers have returned to normal instruction "not because they don’t care but because they know that this is exactly what some people need" in the face of grief.

Downers Grove North is also offering counseling services to students who are mourning Dunlap.

Schwarze added that many students are wondering what they can do to help the Dunlap family. One initiative has been to do 18 positive things to honor Beth's upbeat spirit and her volleyball jersey number: 18.

Beth's family is also encouraging students and staff to share positive stories about their daughter. Students can write down a memory of Dunlap and drop it off at the school's Counseling Office. The handwritten memories will be delivered to Beth's family at the end of the week, Schwarze said.

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