The SUNY Canton Counseling Services and the College Union Board have invited Bob Almeter, an ordained deacon of Norwich, N.Y., to come speak about the tragic death of his daughter, Katie, and two other college students, after riding with a drunk driver. The presentation is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13 in SUNY Canton's Kingston Theater. This event is free and open to the public.

"Courtney Battista (SUNY Canton College Housing Director) and I saw Bob tell this remarkable and poignant story," said Melinda A. Miller, SUNY Canton Senior Counselor. "Advocating abstinence from drugs and alcohol goes so far, but testimonials like Bob’s can instill a very real awareness about the dangers of alcohol."

Katie, who was 18, and her two friends, Emily Collings and Rachel Nargiso, had been having dinner before hitching a ride back to the Colgate Campus with three intoxicated boys they did not know. After less than a mile, driver Robert Koester, a junior at Colgate, struck a tree. The accident killed all three girls and Kevin King of Hudson Valley Community College. Koester was charged with driving while intoxicated and four counts of second-degree manslaughter. Four lives were lost and one forever ruined by a bad decision and a single-car accident.

Katie and her very close friends were seldom seen apart according to Mr. Almeter. All three were high school National Honor Society students. Nargiso was a gifted artist; Collins was an excellent swimmer; and Katie, an accomplished runner. "I want you to remember that this one event took four lives and affected hundreds of people," Mr. Almeter said.

This presentation will precede an exhibit entitled "Friends One Day – One Wrong Turn" which is scheduled to come to SUNY Canton in April.

September 2, 2005

Media inquiries should be directed to Gregory Kie, Media Relations Coordinator, or call 315/386-7527.

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