An Indiana Wesleyan University residence hall will be dedicated October 3 in memory of an IWU honors graduate who was killed while doing humanitarian work in Afghanistan.
The residence hall, which opened in 2010 as North Hall, has been renamed in memory of Cheryl Marie Beckett. She graduated in 2000 with a bachelor of science degree in biology.
After graduating from IWU, Beckett turned down a full scholarship for graduate study at Johns Hopkins University because she felt God calling her to humanitarian work.
In August 2010, Beckett was one of 10 members of a medical team who were shot to death while traveling in one of the poorest regions of Afghanistan. She was 32 years old and had spent the last six years of her life serving the people of Afghanistan.
Beckett’s parents, Charles and Mary Beckett, along with several other family members will be on IWU’s Marion, IN, campus for the dedication ceremony that will begin at 2 p.m., October 3, in the lobby of Beckett Hall.
Charles Beckett, a pastor in Knoxville, Tennessee, also will speak in two chapel services at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. the same day in the IWU Chapel Auditorium.
Beckett Hall houses 310 women – 180 upper-class students in one wing and 130 freshmen students in a second wing. The building was designed specifically so that older students in one wing could mentor freshmen students in the other wing.
Students who live in the residence hall initiated the process that led to the building being named in honor of Beckett.
A plaque honoring Cheryl Beckett also will be unveiled October 3 in Jackson Library. The IWU trustees created the Alumni World Changer designation, and Beckett’s name will be placed on the Alumni World Changer wall.