Dear Members of the Lehigh Community,
I am writing to report the sad passing of two Lehigh students, Wenjie (Jay) Deng ’26 and Samara Everman ’23, who were recently involved in separate tragic car accidents. During this difficult time, our collective thoughts are with their families, friends, and all those whose lives they’ve touched.
Jay was from Guangzhou, GD, in the People's Republic of China, and came to the United States to begin his college career. Those close to Jay, including his first-year advisor, remember him as a highly regarded student with a bright future who excelled academically and had a kind smile. He was a rising sophomore who had recently declared an economics major. We will keep the community updated on any plans for remembrances or memorial services on campus.
Samara was one of the first graduates from the College of Health this past May, earning a bachelor’s degree in population health with minors in religion and maternal and child health. She was enrolled in the Master of Public Health program and was planning to serve as a graduate assistant in the Office of International Students and Scholars this academic year. She was extremely active on campus, serving as a global social impact fellow and a United Nations youth representative. She also was a member of the Lehigh University Student Scholar Institute, a Lehigh admissions tour guide, and a member of the College of Health Student Advisory Council.
Samara’s family has shared that there will be a memorial this Sunday, July 23, at 2 p.m. at Princeton United Methodist Church (7 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08540). The service also will be live-streamed. The family invites those attending to a private reception at their home following the memorial and has asked that donations in Samara’s memory be directed to Lehigh programs that supported Samara and enhanced the opportunities that she was able to be a part of during her time at Lehigh: the Lehigh Students and Scholars Institute (LUSSI) and College of Health experiential learning funding for students in financial need.
For members of our Lehigh community, remember that there are support resources available for students, faculty and staff in finding comfort and understanding during this difficult time.
We mourn the tragic loss of two bright students and our hearts are heavy as we remember the lives that were taken too soon. Jay and Samara’s impact was deeply felt, and their presence will be deeply missed by our Lehigh University community.
Ricardo Hall
Vice President for Student Affairs