In recognition of the 20th anniversary of September 11, I had the honor of planning and orchestrating an expanded commemorative ceremony at Endicott College—an event rooted in remembrance, resilience, and community unity. Traditionally, Endicott’s annual 9/11 observance integrates service-focused initiatives such as the “Weekend of Service,” flag plantings to honor victims, and the “12 Hours of LIGHT” program celebrating acts of kindness.

For this milestone year, I coordinated a two-part ceremony that brought together students, faculty, staff, and members of the Town of Beverly Fire Department. The program began indoors with a reflective presentation featuring Stars of HOPE—a national organization dedicated to healing through therapeutic art—highlighting their mission of transforming trauma into resilience. The ceremony then transitioned outdoors, where students processed beneath a large American flag and received individual flags representing lives lost on 9/11, placing them across the main quad in a powerful visual tribute.

This event remains one of the most meaningful projects I have led, blending intention, symbolism, and community engagement to honor the past while inspiring hope for the future.