It was a quiet and deeply moving evening at Brown University as students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered to honor the lives of two students lost in a tragic act of violence in December. Nearly two months after the incident, the campus continues to grieve, carrying both sorrow and remembrance as hundreds filled Sayles Hall to pay their respects.
The gathering was marked not by anger or fear, but by reflection, unity, and love. In her remarks, Brown University President Christina Paxson shared that Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook have left a lasting impact on the university community—touching even those who never had the chance to meet them personally. Their stories, she said, have become a source of inspiration and reflection across campus.
Though different in background and life paths, both students were remembered for qualities they shared: optimism, compassion, and a deep dedication to their studies and friendships. Friends and faculty spoke of how each student brought light into the lives of others in their own unique way.
Ella Cook was remembered as a thoughtful and confident student from Alabama, deeply grounded in her faith and actively involved in campus life. Those who knew her described her as someone who led quietly but powerfully, guided by integrity, kindness, and conviction. She was seen as a promising leader with a strong sense of purpose and care for others.
Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov was remembered as a driven and warm-hearted young man with aspirations of becoming a doctor. Speakers reflected on how he balanced his life in the United States with pride in his family’s roots in Uzbekistan, always guided by empathy and a desire to help others. Friends described him as someone who encouraged authenticity, resilience, and joy—even in difficult moments.
The words shared by those closest to them brought many in attendance to tears. Friends spoke openly about love, loss, and the lasting influence both students had on their lives. Their reflections painted a picture of two young people who made others feel valued, supported, and understood.
Faculty members also shared memories, describing both students as engaged learners who contributed meaningfully to the classroom and the broader university community. Their absence, speakers noted, is deeply felt, but their legacy remains present in the values they embodied.
The evening concluded with a multifaith prayer, a moment of silence, and a candle lighting, symbolizing the light both students brought to Brown University—a light that continues to shine through the memories, stories, and lives they touched.
As the campus continues to heal, the gathering served as a reminder of the strength found in community, compassion, and shared remembrance. Brown University stands together in honoring two lives that, though far too short, left a profound and lasting mark.
💙 May their memories continue to inspire kindness, purpose, and unity.
