Students at Hardin-Simmons University will honor the life of Jessica Rogers during a candlelight service, Thursday, September 20, 2012, at the university’s Shelton Stadium.
The HSU sophomore and volleyball player died in a car accident Thursday, August 9, 2012, as she was traveling from Stephenville, Texas, back to Abilene.
Jessica Rogers, a 2010 graduate of Henrietta High School, was a two-time all-state selection and district defensive MVP on the Henrietta volleyball team. She won the Cowgirls Spirit Award as a freshman and last fall was one of 52 HSU student athletes named to the American Southwest Conference All-Academic Honor Roll.
Jessica was working at Luskey’s Western Wear in Abilene and was on her way back to work after visiting a high school friend when the accident happened on I-20 near Eastland, Texas.
The service has been planned by several of Jessica’s friends and teammates. Students, Bethany Williams and Leah Greenfield, say the event gives students an opportunity to celebrate Jessica’s life and will be meaningful to Jessica’s family and friends.
Hardin-Simmons University director of athletics, John Neese, says, “Jessica touched many lives not only on our campus, but throughout Abilene over the last two years. She was a great representative of our university and her memory will serve as an inspiration for her teammates and for our campus.”
Jessica was born Sept. 7, 1991, and was just one month short of celebrating her 21st birthday and three weeks short of the start of school. She is the daughter of Doug Rogers of Henrietta, and Benton and Marge Easter of Gun Barrel, Texas.
Jessica was earning a Bachelor of Behavioral Science degree with a major in exercise science and attended Beltway Baptist Church.
Volleyball coach, Sabrina Bingham, says of Jessica, “She loved her God first and foremost, and it poured out of every part of her. She had the biggest heart in the world and truly cared about every person she came in contact with. She was always so energetic, full of life, and passionate about all that she was doing.”
The candlelight service starts at 7:15 p.m. in the football stadium, Thursday, September 20, 2012.