Bell-ringing to memorialize slain student

A memorial service for Tomarken Smith, a Northwest Missouri State University student who died Sept. 14 from injuries suffered in an assault on the courthouse square in Maryville, will take place at the Bell of ’48 on the the Northwest campus at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Dec. 14.

Smith’s family will be in attendance. The ceremony is open to the public.

Located on the south Administration Building lawn, the Bell of '48 is traditionally rung in memory of deceased students and other members of the university community.

It was donated to Northwest by the class of 1948 in honor of men and women who served in uniform during World War II, particularly those who attended the university.

The 21-year-old Smith, known as "T.O." to his friends, grew up in metropolitan St. Louis. He was a senior corporate recreation/wellness major with a minor in coaching. A member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, he was a former resident assistant and a student employee at the university's fitness center at the time of his death.

Northwest will award a posthumous degree to Smith’s family during its winter commencement ceremony, which also takes place Dec. 14, beginning at 1 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

"The Northwest community has been greatly impacted by Tomarken’s passing this fall," said Northwest President John Jasinski in a prepared statement. "He was deeply engaged in the university culture through his coursework, membership in his fraternity and as a student employee. ...

"Therefore, it is appropriate that we honor his memory with next week’s bell ringing and recognize his academic accomplishments by awarding him a posthumous degree."