Indiana State University campus comes together to remember Zinyetta Morgan

Apr. 24—Zinyetta Morgan touched many lives at Indiana State University and left an impact that will never be forgotten, according to those who spoke Wednesday during a Celebration of Life in University Hall.

The 24-year-old ISU senior died April 16 as the result of a traffic accident at Erie Canal and Lockport roads in southern Vigo County.

She majored in African and African American studies with a minor in early childhood and was set to graduate in May.

Morgan also was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

On Wednesday, university leaders, family, sorority sisters, faculty and others celebrated her memory while grieving her loss.

"She was an amazing student and amazing student leader," Tiffany Reed, ISU assistant vice president for student affairs and inclusion, said after the program.

"We can only hope the light she shined on this campus ... people will continue to keep burning and uplifting and spreading that light and spreading that joy," Reed said.

She described Morgan as full of life with a laugh that was contagious, "but knew how to be vulnerable, knew to be intentional and how to be sincere about a lot of things. I think that spoke to her maturity. She was wise beyond her years."

Dajanay Monroe, Delta Sigma Theta Zeta Nu chapter president at ISU, liked to call Morgan the "sun" and described her as a beacon of light.

Morgan urged her sorority sisters to start each day with gratitude.

To the family, Monroe said, "Thank you for nurturing such a lovely spirit and sharing her with us."

And to Zinyetta, she said, "We will hold you in our hearts for a lifetime, until we meet again."

Cynthia Powers, a member of the ISU board of trustees, told the story that no matter what the sorority sisters were doing, when midnight struck, Morgan would make them stop and "praise the Lord for seeing another day."

Despite the tragedy and loss, the ISU Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters "will be just fine because these 14 girls have Zinyetta in their hearts," Powers said. They'll be emulating Zinyetta and reaching out to help others.

Powers thanked Morgan's mom for letting her daughter come to ISU and blessing the sorority. "And the beauty of it is, you got 14 new daughters," Powers said.

ISU President Deborah Curtis shared the university's condolences and also read two poems. Provost Chris Olsen said Morgan will be awarded her degree during May 11 commencement.

Faculty member Andrea Arrington-Sirois had Morgan as a student.

"She was a star in every sense of the word. She was an amazing student, with tremendous potential," Arrington-Sirois said in comments prior to the celebration of life.

Whatever Morgan sought to achieve, she would have achieved. "She had the natural intelligence, the innate drive, and the work ethic to do whatever she wanted. I am so sad that the world doesn't get to see what more she would have done in her life, but the impact she had in her short 24 years speaks to the potential she had."

Arrington-Sirois also said that Morgan "lit up the room wherever she was, but she had the ability to take her light and shine it on others. She was somehow the center of the room but also made sure that everyone in the same space felt seen, valued, and like they belonged. I don't know anyone else who could make people feel so loved and welcomed as Zinyetta."

She traveled to Ghana with Morgan in May 2023 "and I am forever grateful that we had that precious time together. It makes this loss much harder for me to process since I knew her so well, but I know I was given the gift of that special time with her."

She described Morgan as a treasure to her family, friends, classmates, teachers and everyone lucky enough to come into her orbit.

"My heart goes out to everyone trying to process this tragedy. She will not be forgotten and I hope everyone is inspired to emulate the love, warmth, joy, hard work, humor, and faith that she showed the world," Arrington-Sirois said.

Morgan had a major impact on Tiffany Reed, the ISU administrator said.

"She was loved and I'm going to miss her. It's really hard on our campus. It's hard on students who have known her. It's hard for students who didn't know her. When we lose one Sycamore, that affects our entire campus because we're all connected," Reed said.

She told those assembled for the celebration of life, "We are ISU, we are Sycamore family, and Zinyetta Morgan will forever be a Sycamore."

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com. Follow Sue on X at @TribStarSue.