WHITEWATER, Wis. — 18-year-old Lauren Rockett of Milwaukee suddenly passed away during her first year at UW-Whitewater. A permanent tribute to her will be unveiled at the university a year after her death.
UW-Whitewater installed a plaque for Rockett at the Campus Memory Garden beside the Young Auditorium. Friends and loved ones will celebrate Rockett's life next to her memorial on Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m.
Rockett passed away on March 8, 2025. She died by suicide.
"Hearing that your road dog isn't here with you any more, it's just tough," said her friend Ty Williams, who attended UW-Whitewater alongside her when she passed away. "I have so many added friends now just from Lauren. A whole community of people on this campus."
Watch: UW-Whitewater student who passed away honored with permanent memorial on campus
The plaque in her memory says: "Lauren was a beautiful soul who enchanted everyone she encountered. Her laughter filled rooms, her kindness changed lives, and her light made everyone feel seen."
Rockett attended Rufus King High School in Milwaukee before arriving at UW-Whitewater in the fall of 2024. She hoped to major in history with a minor in art.
Williams hopes everyone who knew Rockett and everyone on campus reads her memorial and remembers her.
"What's on this plaque is everything about her," Williams said. "Her spirit, her personality, everything."
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