A couple students at Bradford Area High School were so affected
by the Virginia Tech massacre, they are going hold a candlelight
vigil here in Bradford.

A candlelight vigil will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday at Parkway Field behind Bradford Area High School.

Leah Costik, a student at BAHS, said she and classmate Jenn Lau
are organizing the event.

Costik said that her cousin is a senior mathematics major at
Virginia Tech and her family didn’t know how he was doing for a
while. Her cousin was fine, but for many of her classmates, last
week’s events hit close to home.

“You never know what could happen,” Costik said. “You don’t know
how lucky you are that it doesn’t happen to you. We are kind of
shocked.”

When Costik and her friends were talking about what had happened
in Virginia, another classmate, Michael Kassir, suggested they do
something.

“I took it from there,” Costik said.

And within a couple of hours, she had it set. She added through
the help of Principal Ken Coffman, she was “able to get it done
really quick.”

The program will include the reading of the victims’ names and a
prayer followed by a 20 minute silent vigil.

BAHS student Marissa Buchheit will sing either “Ave Maria” or
“Amazing Grace,” Costik said.

There will also be closing remarks.

Although they have received candle donations from Wal-Mart and
Quaker Boy, they ask that those attending bring candles of their
own.

Costik added that since they are organizing the event on their
own and not through a club, they can’t afford special police either
so people need to be careful when driving to and from the
vigil.

Not sure how many people to expect, Costik just said. “I hope a
lot of people will come … anyone who hears about it is
welcome.”

Originally, Costik said they wanted to have the vigil at the
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. However, that was not
possible since there’s finals and an upcoming graduation
ceremony.

The university is going to help get the word out through sending
e-mails to students and putting up fliers.

Anyone seeking further information is asked to contact Costik or
Lau.

“All Bradfordians are asked to come out and show support for the
victims of this terrible tragedy,” Costik said.

Anyone seeking further information can contact Costik or
Lau.