MSU Extension Oakland County

Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Four County Community Foundation and Oxford Township Parks and Recreation, will host a community memorial garden event on May 24 to honor the lives of four former Oxford High School students.   

The event, held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., invites community members to join for a morning of reflection and activities to honor Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling and Madisyn Baldwin — the four students tragically lost in a November 2021 shooting at Oxford High School. Eight other people, including a teacher, were also injured in the devastating event.  

"The day will bring the Oxford community together to honor those lost far too young, coming together in partnership and in the spirit of 'Oxford Strong,’” said Kathy Dickens, executive director of the Four County Community Foundation. "This event reflects Four County Community Foundation’s mission to strengthen local communities by connecting people, resources, and philanthropy for the benefit of those we serve."  

Taking place in and around Hana’s Memorial Garden in Seymour Lake Township Park at 2795 Seymour Lake Road in Oxford, the memorial event will highlight how gardens can serve as spaces for connection, healing and growth.  

Through a series of guided activities and presentations ranging from gardening to physical health, participants can engage in program segments inspired by an area of passion or interest of each of the students.   

MSU Extension will support the event by offering programming related to Extension Master Gardeners, conservation stewardship, 4‑H, and healthy living. Staff delivering programming include Melanie Fuhrmann, Bindu Bhakta, David Lowenstein, Lindsey Kerr, Kea Norrell-Aitch and Lisa Mazzola.  

"It is very meaningful and heartwarming to be able to plan and host an event like this within my community,” said Fuhrmann, a consumer horticulture educator. "As an MSU Extension educator, my goal is to create spaces where education, stewardship, and community come together. This event allows us to honor the lives and legacies of four outstanding Oxford students while also showcasing how Extension’s mission supports strong, connected communities."

The event agenda is as follows:  

• 8:30–9:00 a.m. – Arrival & Welcome 
• 9:00–9:15 a.m. – Opening Reflection & Event Overview 
• 9:15–10:00 a.m. – Hana’s Memorial Garden: Garden Overview & Stewardship  
  • During this segment, inspired by Hana St. Juliana, participants will assist with planting perennial plants within Hana’s Memorial Garden, reinforcing long‑term environmental stewardship practices.  
• 10:00–10:45 a.m. – Pollinators & Native Plants Education  
  • This segment, inspired by Justin Shilling, will highlight native plants that support pollinator health, followed by the installation of native plants in the garden space between the garden and baseball field fence. Participants will also have access to a resource table featuring pollinator and native plant educational materials.  
• 10:45–11:15 a.m. – Leadership, Mentorship & Teamwork 
  • In partnership with the 42 Strong Scholarship Fund, this portion of the event is inspired by Tate Myre’s commitment to leadership, mentorship and teamwork, as well as the importance of supporting one another. Planned components include: a brief reflection on leadership and mentorship; a short, inclusive physical activity; education on food and nutrition; information on Mental Health First Aid and sleep health resources; and a discussion on how gardening supports mental and physical well‑being.  
• 11:15–11:45 a.m. – Creativity, Community & Expression 
  • In this portion of the program, inspired by Madisyn Baldwin, participants will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on experiences such as art-making or writing messages of kindness, along with optional wellness-focused activities led by local 4-H staff. 
• 11:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m. – Community Connection & Closing  

For more information on how to support the Oxford memorial efforts, please visit the websites of the Four County Community Foundation memorial fund for Hana St. Juliana, as well as the 42 Strong Tate Myre Foundation and For the Love of Nature, the Forever Justin Shilling Foundation. 
  
For more information about MSU Extension programs and resources, visit extension.msu.edu.