On Saturday, June 6, 2009, we lost our Springfield sister, Emily Trump. While traveling home from a graduation party early Saturday morning, the car in which she was a passenger swerved off the road and collided head-on with a tree. Emily’s good friend and Atlas THON 2009-2010 Recruitment Co-Captain Jon Quigley, who was also in the car, was killed on impact. Emily and driver Gregory Bretz were rushed to Hershey Medical Center; Emily, however, fell into a coma, and passed away on Saturday afternoon.
The first time we met Emily, we were both rather intimidated. She had at least six inches on either of us, and with her long blonde hair, she reminded us of a Barbie doll. Later, in those ever so amusing Facebook “Tag all of your friends” pictures, we jokingly labeled her “The Tower.” The instant she smiled though, she won all of us over. Emily had a smile that could make the perpetually cloudy State College skies a little less grey. Her presence in my life was a rainbow - beautiful and much too brief.
 | Emily moved into Albion House, Simmons Hall as a freshman while we were beginning our sophomore year. Of course a few of us “older and wiser” sophomores decided that we wanted to take the freshmen of our hall under our wings. We were trying to be the mentors for these young ones, but somewhere along the line, we switched roles. Soon we were all rushing into her room to share good news, ask an opinion, borrow clothes, and even to get haircuts. She became a very dear friend, someone we all respected for always being positive. |
It seems strange to write about Emily in the past tense, because she always lived for the present. She was always “game” for any shenanigans we could think up, and she was the one who would drop anything to be your shoulder to cry on. Emily lived without pretension. She put her heart into everything she did, and that is what made people love her. She had a smile and a “Hey Girl!” ready for anyone who needed it, and had the ability to make everybody feel special. While originally, we had wanted to be the role models, we now realize that Emily has been the one to teach us. Emily taught us how to “Mur” and how to be “Bit,” how to shamelessly parade down the hall and sing the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish song, and how to enjoy every single moment and live life to its absolute fullest.
| When someone who is good and kind leaves us before her time, the world should take notice. As Springfielders, take notice that not just your team and your Springfield Family but your entire world has now changed. Learn from this girl who had a heart of gold to live in the now, to live selflessly, and to recognize and embrace the good you find in others. It’s not fair that Emily was taken from us so soon, but she earned her angel wings and must be in heaven with another of our Springfield Family, Xavier, smiling down on us. Now if the sun shines a bit warmer, we will know it is because of her radiant smile. Mourn our loss, but celebrate her life. |  |
Stay safe.
With love,
Gabbie Gort
Claire Xu
