One thing senior Kamarrya Hemphill remembers about Elliot Drees, a student who died two years ago, is that he really liked Halloween. So, it felt natural to her and Elliot’s friends to create a tribute for him during the fall season, she said.

Fall is an important season for the Drees family — every year, people go up to Elliot’s and his family’s home to help decorate for Halloween.

“And I was like, we have to get all the business stuff in place,” Kamarrya said. “We have to talk to the family. I talked to administration and Mr. Scott and Mr. Spencer for [publication in] Out of the Blue and Creative Writing Club. But it was just the thought of fall.”

Kamarrya posted details for Elliot’s commemoration and how others can be involved on Instagram on September 26, 2025. Although the project was planned to be finished by Halloween, work may extend beyond that date.

The project will incorporate writing and art pieces, contributed by current and past students who knew Elliot. Some are writing about their favorite memories with Elliot, and some students are interested in creating a portrait of him.

Above all, those involved want to honor and celebrate Elliot’s memory. They also want to promote the importance of finding and creating community and support in every setting.

“The friend I was talking about that helped me come up with the idea wanted it to be a message [saying] people are not alone …that you can talk about your feelings, and you should check on your friends,” Kamarrya said.