• Baylor family rallies behind incoming freshman critically injured in accident

    Megan Ritzi

    On the morning of July 29, a group of four Baylor Bears — one recent graduate, two current students, and one incoming freshman — were headed to Baton Rouge, where they were to perform at a meeting of the International Clarinet Association.

    But just about 45 minutes outside of Waco, the group was involved in a one-car accident. Two of the Bears — junior Jack Stewart and recent graduate Laura Onwudinanti, BME ’14 — were killed; the others — senior Jake Hale and incoming freshman Megan Ritzi — were seriously injured.

    [READ: Baylor students, faculty mourn deaths of talented, caring friends || WATCH: Friends, teachers remember Baylor students killed in crash]

    Hale has since left the hospital, but Ritzi has a long recovery ahead, having only just been released from intensive care. Dallas-Fort Worth’s FOX 4 spoke with her parents yesterday:

    The reporter noted how evident it was that Ritzi is surrounded by a loving community, including her new friends at Baylor. Her parents told of how her future Baylor clarinet teacher not only came to visit, but brought her Baylor Line jersey as a gift. Ritzi aims to make it to Baylor for the spring semester, and the university is holding her music scholarship for her. Her friends and family are raising money to help cover her medical expenses; in just a week, donations have nearly reached $25,000.

    Sic ’em, Bears!