Source/Writer: Todd Gottula (gottulatm@unk.edu), Director of Communications, 308.865.8454 & 308.293.2602

Kearney, Neb. - The following is a statement from the University of Nebraska at Kearney on the death of student Marlene Rashidi, a sophomore from Lincoln:

"The UNK family is devastated at the news of the loss of Marlene, who was a visible student and leader, and member of the Loper track team. As Marlene shared last fall in the feature "My Loper Life," being in college was an accomplishment and source of profound pride for her. Marlene Uziya Rashidi will be missed. Our hearts go out to her family and friends: We share your grief for Marlene. She will long be remembered."

Rashidi, 20, was the victim of the early Sunday morning shooting in Lincoln. She was a UNK sophomore majoring in political science/pre-law with aspirations of becoming a public defender and personal lawyer.

A 2014 graduate of Lincoln High School, she was born in Democratic Republic of Congo and grew up in South Africa and a refugee camp in Zimbabwe. Her family moved to the United States in 2009.

At UNK, Rashidi was a member of the track and field team, where she was a thrower. She also was a member of the Antelope Newspaper staff, Army ROTC Program, freelance writer and published poet.

Representatives from UNK Student Health and Counseling are available to individuals who would like to talk with someone. Visit the counseling center in room 144 of the Memorial Student Affairs Building or call 865.8248.

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Rashidi was an accomplished poet. A book of her work "Refrain from Silence" is available for purchase on Amazon. Below is one of her pieces. 

To My Fellow Athletes - Poem by Marlene Rashidi

To my people who are determined. 
With hearts ready for challenges.
With minds set on victory. 
Motivated by mankind.

To my people who sweat for championship.
Who dwell in the Friday Night Lights.
And who won't hate their challenge, but next them.
Who strive for perfection above the influence.

To my people who put God first, 
Who put family before weakness.
Who race miles through the wind of November, 
Who their great stories are an inspiration.

To my fellow warriors, keepers, and winners, 
We are not stuck up; we are just filled up with energy, 
We are not failures when we lost our games, 
That's our lesson to learn from. We are not uptight or prideful.

Let us acknowledge the work they put in to; 
To represent their school, country, culture and individuality.
Let us acknowledge the resentments of failure they have to deal with, 
Let us realize they are heroes, they are fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers.

We are their hope, their supporters, and their motivators.
We are to upraise them and not rebel their abilities.
They are our daughter and son's inspiration.
They are humans.

This is for my teammates, 
This is for my sisters and brothers, 
Who will shed blood just to run the race, jump the bar, 
Pitch, score, dive, skate, swim and hoop and many more.

This is for all my people who dream to accomplish, 
Who dedicated themselves, who put their time and energy, 
To my optimistic athletes, treat us as one of you. 
We are fighters. We are one of you, because we run the same race.