Student Daniela Lekhno (SMG’13) Remembered
Meg Theriault (SMG’13) Remains Hospitalized, Recovery Fund Established
Daniela Lekhno (SMG'13), one of three students who died in a van rollover in New Zealand
Three Boston University students were killed the weekend of May 12, 2012, when a van they were traveling in overturned on its way to a popular New Zealand tourist destination. The three students, Austin Brashears (ENG’13), Roch Jauberty (CAS’14), and Daniela Lekhno (SMG’13) were all enrolled in BU’s study abroad program. Five other students were injured in the crash, including Alys McAlpine (SMG’13), who was treated and released from an area hospital, and Meg Theriault (SMG’13), who was airlifted from the crash site and remains hospitalized in New Zealand.
School of Management student Daniela Lekhno, 20, was from Manalapan, N.J. She was studying business administration and management, with a minor in finance. She was a former member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
Hope Thomason (CAS’14), a friend who’s currently abroad in Argentina, says she is in shock.
“Daniela is one of the greatest people I have ever met and for that I need to tell you how amazing she was,” Thomason says. “Everything about her was special. The most kind, warm-hearted, beautiful, and fun girl. So loyal to her friends. She was in SMG, yet she was the most amazing writer…She was always keeping us on our toes and was a fireball, fierce and feisty, but honestly only in the best of ways. Many people will say this once someone is gone, but in all honesty, she is someone I always thought to myself how lucky I was to call her my best friend. You couldn’t not love her. I can’t believe the world has lost her… I miss her so much.”
Lekhno took operations management last semester with Barry Kadets, a School of Management lecturer. He recalls speaking with her then about a book she was reading in Russian, which impressed him. Lekhno had asked him to write a few recommendations for scholarships she planned to apply for, and Kadets says he was happy to do so.
“She was a very interesting person,” he says. “Quiet in class, but very smart and a little more confident in herself than most students. Just a terrific girl. I was very upset when I heard the news.”
Student Meg Theriault (SMG'13), who remains hospitalized in New Zealand
School of Management student Meg Theriault remains hospitalized following surgery. Individuals interested in helping Theriault and her family are encouraged to give to a recovery fund in her name. Checks may be made out to:
Meg Theriault Recovery Fund
c/o Newburyport Five Cent Savings Bank
63 State Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
Details via BU Today
