Dionte Berry
Editor-in-Chief
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The life and memory of student Kaitlyn Shoulders was honored with a candlelight vigil on Thursday, March 31.

Shoulders, a native of Madisonville, Kentucky, was a sophomore public relations student and member of Murray State’s Alpha Delta Pi sorority chapter. Shoulders died on March 19, and President Bob Jackson notified the campus body of her passing on March 28 in an emailed letter.

Shoulders was laid to rest on Tuesday, March 29, at Brier Creek Cemetery in Bremen, Kentucky. 

Shoulders’ fellow sorority sisters are not allowed to talk directly to The News about their relationship with her because the sororities’ Collegiate Province Director has yet to approve them to do so. However, they were able to host the vigil and share their memories of her. 

At the vigil, Alpha Delta Pi President Mia Kieninger said Shoulders was an embodiment of what it means to be an Alpha Delta Pi member.

“Kaitlyn was someone you could depend on, and she lit up every room she walked into,” Kieninger said. “We are now living for Kaitlyn in all things we do, and we will never forget the impact she has left on our lives.”

Junior and fellow sorority member Jenna Mullen also shared her memories of Shoulders at the vigil. 

“Kaitlyn was hands down one of the most genuine people I have ever met,” Mullen said. “My favorite thing about her is her absolutely radiant smile that just touched everyone’s heart. I met Kaitlyn during fall 2020 when she picked ADPi and she told me about how she was so excited to be here and meet all of the new sisters.” 

Freshman middle school education major Abby Miller, Shoulders’ fellow high school and college classmate, spoke after Mullen.

“Kaitlyn and I went to high school together. She taught me what a true friend is,” Miller said. “She was someone who stuck with me through thick and thin, and somebody who was so strong for me when I couldn’t be. I am so grateful. When I picture Kaitlyn, I have this image of the biggest smile, and we all know she had the biggest, most beautiful smile.”   

Shoulders’ mother Diana Phillips shared how special Murray State was to her daughter.

“Kaitlyn came here for a visit with my mom, and she called me on her way home and said, ‘Mom, I have found my second home,’” Phillips said. 

Phillips also thanked the Murray State community for their support during this hard time.

“For all of you that have shown up for us this week, I can’t tell you how much that means to me as her mom,” Phillips said. “My entire family watched you all stand in line and hug us and love us and that really meant a lot to us.” 

Along with her friends and family, the Journalism and Mass Communications Department have been impacted by Shoulders’ death.

Journalism and Mass Communications Department Chair Kevin Qualls said he had Shoulders in an online class. 

“Losing a student like this is always hard,” Qualls said. “Kaitlyn was in our classrooms, she was in our lives, and we knew her and we liked her. Coming back from Spring Break and starting class, it was in the air, and I had to stop at the beginning of a couple classes and say, ‘I acknowledge this and I feel it too, the grief.’”

Senior Public Relations Instructor Elizabeth Thomas was Shoulders’ academic adviser and had her as a student in two classes. She said she was looking forward to having her again during the fall semester. 

“I have known Kaitlyn for two years … I have been there from her very start here at Murray State, and I have to tell you Kaitlyn was truly a very, very special young lady,” Thomas said. “She could have done anything she wanted with her life. She was a ray of light, and I know it can sound so trite when you say this, but truly she was the kindest, sweetest student I could ever imagine.” 

Thomas said she would often talk with Shoulders after class when they were on Zoom.

“I met with Kaitlyn two days before Spring Break started, and we spent a wonderful hour talking and she was the picture of health and was all smiles,” Thomas said. “She told me all about her semester, and we planned out the fall and she was so excited.”  

As the campus body continues to remember the life of Shoulders, memorial contributions for Shoulders can be made to Christ the King Catholic Church at 1600 Kingsway Drive in Madisonville, Kentucky.

Shoulders’ mother Diana Phillips shared how special Murray State was to her daughter.

“Kaitlyn came here for a visit with my mom, and she called me on her way home and said, ‘Mom, I have found my second home,’” Phillips said. 

Phillips also thanked the Murray State community for their support during this hard time.

“For all of you that have shown up for us this week, I can’t tell you how much that means to me as her mom,” Phillips said. “My entire family watched you all stand in line and hug us and love us and that really meant a lot to us.” 

Along with her friends and family, the Journalism and Mass Communications Department have been impacted by Shoulders’ death.

Journalism and Mass Communications Department Chair Kevin Qualls said he had Shoulders in an online class. 

“Losing a student like this is always hard,” Qualls said. “Kaitlyn was in our classrooms, she was in our lives, and we knew her and we liked her. Coming back from Spring Break and starting class, it was in the air, and I had to stop at the beginning of a couple classes and say, ‘I acknowledge this and I feel it too, the grief.’”

Senior Public Relations Instructor Elizabeth Thomas was Shoulders’ academic adviser and had her as a student in two classes. She said she was looking forward to having her again during the fall semester. 

“I have known Kaitlyn for two years … I have been there from her very start here at Murray State, and I have to tell you Kaitlyn was truly a very, very special young lady,” Thomas said. “She could have done anything she wanted with her life. She was a ray of light, and I know it can sound so trite when you say this, but truly she was the kindest, sweetest student I could ever imagine.” 

Thomas said she would often talk with Shoulders after class when they were on Zoom.

“I met with Kaitlyn two days before Spring Break started, and we spent a wonderful hour talking and she was the picture of health and was all smiles,” Thomas said. “She told me all about her semester, and we planned out the fall and she was so excited.”  

As the campus body continues to remember the life of Shoulders, memorial contributions for Shoulders can be made to Christ the King Catholic Church at 1600 Kingsway Drive in Madisonville, Kentucky.