Around 70 students gathered at the high school for a session with grief counselors from Companions on a Journey, a non-profit agency based in West Chester Twp., school counselors and community volunteers from local churches and youth groups.
During the three-hour session, students shared their memories of Stepaniak, his love of video games and his eagerness to please others. They talked about how they felt when they first heard the news of his death.
As they spoke, some students sniffled, some dabbed their eyes with tissue and some even sobbed aloud. But there was also a lot of hugging and a lot of laughter as they comforted each other, taking solace with each other, which was one of the purposes of the gathering, according to Sheila Munafo-Kanoza, co-director of Companions on a Journey.
“For a lot of these kids, this is their first experience with the death of a close friend,” she said. “The power of the connections made them feel good. They need to be loved and need to be listened to.”
Assistant Principal Jen Lodovico prepared them to face the empty seat when they returned to school and reinforced the idea that the best way to grieve is to grieve together. School social worker Terri Brockman discussed how to deal with insensitive comments they may hear, to visit with one of the counselors rather than confront the person.
Grief counselors will be at the school all week, said Principal Richard Hamilton, for more group sessions as well as individual counseling. They will also be at Lakota East and the Freshman School for students who knew Stepaniak there.
“They’ll be around for as long as we need them,” he said.
“We can follow them through to the end of the school year if we need to,” Munafo-Kanoza said. “Whatever it takes.”
Stepaniak was driving a 2007 Chevy Cobalt Stepaniak south on Ohio 747 around 11 p.m. Friday and attempted to turn left on Hamilton-Mason Road when it was struck by a 2001 Cadillac driven by James Moore of Liberty Twp., which was traveling north on Ohio 747, according to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.
There were four passengers in the vehicle with Stepaniak. Sophomores Nathan Phu, Cameron Winters and Rudi Danquah were treated and released. Sophomore Ashley Stacy was transported by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, where she remained in serious condition Sunday evening.
The accident remains under investigation by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.
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