Samantha Dalton will be honored with a memorial by her peers and family in Murray.

Dalton, a pre-vet major from Clarksville, Tennessee, who died last semester on Dec. 11, 2025, will be memorialized by the Vet Tech/Pre-Vet club, Animal Welfare club and Christian Veterinary Fellowship.

The memorial will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 16 at the Arboretum on 300 Hickory Drive.

Barbie Papajeski, veterinary technology and pre-veterinary medicine instructor and senator, shared the information with members of the Faculty Senate.

“In remembrance of Samantha … Vet Tech/Pre-Vet Club, Christian Veterinary Fellowship and Animal Welfare are coming together to have a memorial tree planted in her name,” Papajeski said. “Samantha’s family will be traveling to Murray this day to join us. Our clubs wanted to invite all Carman faculty, graduate assistants and students to join us in remembrance for Samantha.”

The Vet-Tech/Pre-Vet Club also announced the memorial on their Instagram page, and said all are welcome to attend.

“We want you to join us for a prayer and planting of a memorial tree in loving memory of Samantha Dalton,” the post read. “She was a beloved classmate, friend and Carman student.”

Ron Patterson, Murray State president, gave his condolences in a campus distributed email following her passing.

“On behalf of our campus community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Samantha’s family and friends.”

Patterson provided information for those experiencing grief.

Counseling services are available by emailing [email protected] or by phoning 270-809-6851. Faculty and staff can call 800-441-1327.

Patterson said students have 24/7 access to timely regardless of time or location, as part of the University’s partnership with the online mental health counseling service.