On Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022 at 2:03 p.m. EST, the Syracuse University community gathered in person and virtually for the annual Pan Am Flight 103 Memorial Service. The service, hosted by the Dean and Chaplains of Hendricks Chapel, honored the 270 people, including Syracuse University study abroad students, who were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland on that date and time 34 years ago. A recording of this service, along with remembrances submitted by members of the Syracuse University and Lockerbie, Scotland communities, and family and friends of the victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing in advance of the 2022 annual memorial service can be found on the Pan Am Flight 103 Memorial Service page of this site.

Hendricks Chapel will conduct the annual Pan Am Flight 103 memorial service on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 2:03 p.m. EST. The service will begin in the chapel’s Noble Room, with attendees then processing to the Place of Remembrance.

The service will honor the 270 people, including Syracuse University study abroad students, who were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland, on that date and time 34 years ago. Chaplains will offer prayers and reflections.

The event will also be offered virtually; registration is required. Personal reflections and memories, which can be submitted upon registration, may be included in the ceremony. Closed captioning will be provided. Requests for additional accommodations can be made by contacting Hendricks Chapel at chapelevents@syr.edu.

This service is offered in partnership with the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars, Hendricks Chapel, and the Office of Alumni Engagement.

A memorial service at the Pan Am 103 memorial cairn at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), organized by the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 families group, will take place simultaneously. Additional information about this service can be found on the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. website. The leadership of ANC request that attendees who will be using the provided shuttle buses go through security. There will be a security screener that all visitors must go through outside of the Visitor Center. From there, attendees will walk to their buses which will be parked at the tram location inside ANC. There will be an escort to lead the buses to the event site.

All Syracuse University students are invited to learn more about the Remembrance Scholarship. Students planning to graduate in December 2023 or May 2024 are invited to apply now for the 2023-2024 cohort.

The Remembrance Scholarship is one of the highest honors a Syracuse University student can receive. Those selected are chosen on the basis of leadership, creativity, thoughtful academic inquiry and community impact, including through service to the military, ROTC, first responder, student government, campus clubs or other community organizations.

The 35 rising seniors chosen are each awarded a $5,000 Remembrance Scholarship, and are charged with helping to educate the campus community about the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.

Scholars are expected to undertake meaningful service and to promote initiatives to combat hatred and extremism. Through education, all 270 lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 are remembered and honored. The motto of the Remembrance Scholars is “Look Back and Act Forward.”

Who Can Apply?

Any Syracuse University undergraduate student who is in good academic standing and will graduate in either December 2023 or May 2024 is eligible to apply. Students self-nominate for this scholarship. This award is not tied to financial need.

Information Sessions

Information sessions will be held on the following dates and times:

• Tuesday, Nov. 29, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom (registration required)
• Friday, Dec. 2, from 4 to 5 p.m. in Room 101 of Newhouse 1

At each session, current Remembrance Scholars will provide an overview of their experience, from the application stage to their participation in Remembrance Week.

To request accommodations for the information sessions, contact Melissa Welshans at mlwelsha@syr.edu.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Questions may be directed to remember@syr.edu. The application can be accessed at this link.

This year marks the 34th anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988. The 2022-23 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars have planned events and activities to remember the 270 people who lost their lives in the tragedy.

Remembrance Week, the annual weeklong series of events planned by the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars, will be held Sunday, Oct. 16, through Saturday, Oct. 22. Remembrance Week events are meant to memorialize the victims and further educate the campus community about terrorism. All activities are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. Those who require accommodations to fully participate in these events should contact Heather Ryerson at 315.443.5725 or by email at hmryerso@syr.edu

The schedule of Remembrance Week events is available on the Events page of the Remembrance website, as well as in Syracuse University News.

Syracuse University and the 2022-2023 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars have released public statements in response to the discovery of antisemitic material in a collection at the Pan Am 103 Archives. The University’s statement can be read at this link. The Scholars’ statement can be read in the Daily Orange at this link.

Syracuse University’s Remembrance Scholar Selection Committee has chosen the 35 students who will be the 2022-2023 Remembrance Scholars.

The scholarships, now in their 33rd year, were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the 35 students who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Those students, who were returning from a semester of study in London and Florence, were among the 270 people who perished in the bombing. The scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents and corporations.

Significant support for the Remembrance Scholarships has been provided by Jean Thompson ’66 and Syracuse University Life Trustee Richard L. Thompson G’67 in memory of Jean Taylor Phelan Terry ’43 and John F. Phelan, Jean Thompson’s parents; by Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Steven Barnes ’82 and Deborah Barnes; and by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation.

This scholarship is one of the highest honors a Syracuse University student can receive. The 35 candidates selected to represent and memorialize those students killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 undergo a rigorous and competitive application and interview process. This year’s scholars, as well as the 2022-2023 Lockerbie Scholars, will plan the Remembrance events held at Syracuse University next year as they fulfill the mission to “Look Back, Act Forward” in memory of those lost. Read more about the new cohort on Syracuse University News.

On Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 at 2:03 p.m. EST, the Syracuse University community gathered virtually for the annual Pan Am Flight 103 Memorial Service. The service, hosted by the Dean and Chaplains of Hendricks Chapel, honored the 270 people, including 35 Syracuse University study abroad students, who were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland on that date and time 33 years ago. A recording of this service, along with remembrances submitted by members of the Syracuse University and Lockerbie, Scotland communities, and family and friends of the victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing in advance of the 2021 annual memorial service can be found on the Pan Am Flight 103 Memorial Service portion of this site.

An annual memorial service was also held by the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. at the Memorial Cairn at Arlington National Cemetery. Speakers for this event were Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Paul Abbate and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. The families were joined by current and alumni Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars and members of the Syracuse University community. A recording and photographs of the Arlington National Cemetery service is available on the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. website at this link.

 

UPDATE: Due to current public health guidelines, this event will be held virtually only. Please see below for Zoom link.

The Dean and Chaplains of Hendricks Chapel will conduct a virtual remembrance service on Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 2:03 p.m. ET to honor the 270 people who died aboard Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on the same date 33 years ago.

The service will honor the 270 people, including 35 Syracuse University study abroad students, who were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland on that date and time 33 years ago. Chaplains and Remembrance Scholars will offer prayers, reflections, and a reading of the names of the 35 students who were lost that day.

This service is offered in partnership with the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars, Hendricks Chapel and the Office of Alumni Engagement.

The service will be broadcast live on Zoom. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Register at cc.syr.edu/memorialservice2021.

The Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. will hold their Annual Memorial Service at the Pan Am Cairn in Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, December 21, beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET. The service will include family and friends reading the names of all their loved ones lost in 1988 and a wreath laying at the Cairn. Additional information about this service can be found of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. website.

All Syracuse University students are invited to learn more about the Remembrance Scholarship. Students planning to graduate in December 2022 or May 2023 are invited to apply now for the 2022-23 cohort.

The Remembrance Scholarship is one of the highest honors a Syracuse University student can receive. Those selected are chosen on the basis of scholarship, leadership and service to the community, including service to the military, ROTC, first responder, student government, campus clubs or other community organizations.

The 35 rising seniors chosen are each awarded a $5,000 Remembrance Scholarship, with recipients representing one of the 35 Syracuse University students lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.

Those selected will help educate the campus community about terrorism by relating Syracuse University’s Pan Am Flight 103 experience to current events. Through education, all 270 lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, especially our 35 students, are remembered and honored. The motto of the Remembrance Scholars is “Look Back and Act Forward.”

More details about the application process are available here, and on the Become a Scholar page of this website.

The Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc., (VPAF 103, Inc.), comprised of family members and friends of those whose lives ended when a terrorist bomb exploded on Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988, is pleased to announce the inaugural installment of their Legacy Speaker Series. This is a unique opportunity to learn from the next generation of leaders as they address the complex issues encompassing national security and terrorism prevention. All are invited to join this virtual speaker series as the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc.’s Legacy Fellows and Scholars share their inspiring stories and the impact that they are making through their work and scholarship. Event details and registration information are as follows:

Date and Time: Friday, November 19, 2021 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time

Title: New Domains in National Security – Hypersonics

Speaker: Chloe Wawerek, 2021-2022 VPAF 103 Legacy Fellow

Chloe Wawerek enlisted in the Military Intelligence branch of the United States Army in 2015. She served for five years including one deployment to Afghanistan. During her enlistment she earned an Associates degree in Persian Farsi and a Bachelors degree in National Security. She is currently attending Georgetown University to earn her Master of Science in Foreign Service. After completing her Master’s degree, Wawerek will return as a commissioned officer to the United States Army. Her background is in innovation and emerging technology with a focus on military applications for improvements in national security. Fields of interest focus on artificial intelligence and cyber security. Wawerek will lead us in a discussion of the impact of hypersonic technology on national security.

Registration is required for this virtual event. Register here.

 

Mark your calendars for upcoming Legacy Speaker Events: 

Date and Time: Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 3 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

Speaker: Katherine Rahmlow, 2018-19 VPAF Legacy Fellow

Date and Time: Monday, April 11, 2022 at 3 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time

Speaker: Aya Yousuf, 2021-22 VPAF Legacy Scholar

 

About the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. Legacy Award

In memory of those lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21, 1988, the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. began its Legacy Fellows program by awarding scholarships to aspiring graduate students committed to careers protecting national security and preventing terrorism. Since the first awards in 2017-2018, Legacy Fellows have demonstrated outstanding professional accomplishment and leadership in wide-ranging fields, while promoting these important goals. Their work is a living legacy that continues to honor those killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. on December 21, 1988.

For more information about VPAF 103, Inc., visit VictimsOfPanAmFlight103.org