By Candlelight, Students Remember Emily Dreiman

A candlelight vigil was held Thursday evening for Affton High School senior Emily Dreiman, who was with her family on graduation night last week.

The vigil in front of was organized primarily by two newly-graduated seniors, Nicole Aronoff, who knew Dreiman through Girl Scouts, and Cassandra Mezines, the senior class president.

“It was something the school could do to bring the community together,” Aronoff said.

Jacoba Koppert, pastor at and chaplain for the St. Louis County Police Department, led the vigil after being recommended by Father Don Siple of , who blessed the bodies at the crime scene.

Seventeen students took turns at the microphone sharing their memories of Dreiman with the crowd of about 100, describing through tears and laughter her hard work and inspirational attitude. Many began their anecdotes with what seemed like the mantra of the evening: “I had the pleasure of knowing Emily...”

Students and adults at the vigil especially remembered Dreiman’s enthusiasm for the Girl Scouts. Dreiman was a member of Troop 1433, and had been hired to work this summer at the Girl Scouts' Summer Nights Day Camp—her dream job, Aronoff said.

“She was the Girl Scout’s Girl Scout,” Aronoff said, adding that Dreiman was the troop’s top seller of cookies by several hundred boxes.

Aronoff and other Scouts led the group in singing “Make New Friends, but Keep The Old.”

Alyssa Jung recalled Dreiman’s perseverance on the swim team, where she kept trying despite never being able to dive well.

“A lot of the team would complain when they had to do stuff. Emily just did as she was told and smiled. We really learned a lot from her,” Jung said.

Sarah Ackermann had been acquainted with Dreiman for 13 years but became good friends with her through their work together on school theater productions.

“I really got to know her Emily, and I regret not knowing her sooner,” Ackermann said. “She will always be in my heart and in the back of my head.”

Friends and classmates, fellow scouts and her homecoming date all shared their experiences. The vigil ended with the group singing “This Little Light of Mine.”

“Even if you didn’t know Emily, hearing these girls…you feel like you know her now,” said Teresa Hill, who had met Dreiman briefly at a Girl Scout event.

This is the second time this year that Affton High students have faced tragedy. , a freshman, died in March from injuries she sustained in an automobile accident returning from the Mardi Gras celebrations in Soulard.

“Emily is with us. Rachel is with us,” Koppert told the crowd.

Discussions are underway amongst administration, faculty and students on the best way to memorialize each girl. Possibilities include a room or bench at the or a scholarship awarded for perseverance.

Affton High Principal Sue Jackson said that Dreiman had given her and several other faculty a small ceramic fortune cookie at the graduation dress rehearsal, the day before the family died in what police believe was a tragic domestic incident that may have ended in murder-suicide.

Dreiman had been held back in the third grade, but years later she took extra classes during the summer to catch up, and graduate with her original class. At the rehearsal, Dreiman had wanted to double-check that her name was on the list to be called to receive diplomas.

“Tonight you have honored her by naming your memories and your pain,” Koppart told the group in her closing benediction.