University unveils memorial for earthquake victims

BOCA RATON, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida university unveiled a massive memorial for the students and faculty who lost their lives in the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Families and university members walked through the memorial at Lynn University, Friday, remembering the six people who died over two years ago.

Four students and two faculty members of the university were in Haiti in January 2010 when the earthquake hit and their hotel collapsed. The group was on a humanitarian mission with Food For The Poor.

Families at the memorial were glad their children's lives will never be forgotten. "Twenty-six months ago our lives were turned upside down," said Len Gengel, who lost his daughter. "It's absolutely unfathomable to lose a daughter and as any parent would know, it's your worst nightmare."

The structure, which cost more than $1 million to build, is located in the center of campus and features six prisms representing the lives lost. The two outside prisms are in remembrance of the faculty members and the four inside are for each student. Each prism has different etchings and personal sayings, likes and dislikes of each person lost. "Our biggest fear was that they would be forgotten and they will never be forgotten," said Cherylann Gengel. "So beautiful and it is so spectacular and it was built out of love."

During the day, the prisms and the light inside the structure changes color. Families at the memorial said that they could almost feel their kids inside the structure when each of the colors changed.

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