Kyle Miller was a junior zoo and conservation science major at Otterbein when he died in a tragic kayaking accident in March 2014. During their time of loss, Pamela and Craig Miller, Kyle’s parents, discovered the support of the campus community — from his classmates who planted a memorial tree on campus to the administrators who helped them establish an endowed scholarship fund and plan the first Kyle Miller Memorial 5K.

“Having gone to a larger university, we were both amazed by the level of empathy that we felt and how much the staff cared and wanted to help our family to honor Kyle,” Pamela said.

“Kyle always loved animals but it was Otterbein’s zoo and conservation science program that ignited his passion for wildlife,” she said. “The endowed scholarship gives our family the opportunity to create Kyle’s legacy and for others to hear and learn by his passion for wildlife.”