The University of Idaho has dedicated a new campus healing garden in memory of four students who were tragically killed in November 2022. The Vandal Healing Garden and Memorial was designed and built by students in the College of Art and Architecture Design-Build Program, with guidance from faculty and alumni.
The beautiful garden is a symbol of the university’s strength and resilience in the face of tragedy, and serves as a peaceful space for reflection and remembrance. The memorial features nameplates inscribed with the names of Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, and Madison Mogen, the four students who lost their lives in a brutal stabbing attack at their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho.
A public dedication ceremony was held on Wednesday, led by the students who created the memorial. The event provided an opportunity for the university community to come together and honor the memories of the four students. Attendees were invited to write notes of remembrance and leave them at the memorial site.
Meanwhile, the trial of Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with the 2022 killings, is expected to begin in June 2025. Kohberger has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his defense lawyers are currently seeking to have the trial moved to a different county. If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty.
