Students at Star Middle School turned a tragic loss into a lasting tribute for 14‑year‑old Jeffrey Shepp, who died in an accidental drowning at Freedom Park earlier this year. After returning from spring break, the student council discussed the incident during a classroom news circle and unanimously voted to support the Shepp family with an annual service project.
Planning and partnership
Student Council Adviser Jennifer Nelson explained that the project began as a way to show compassion without a personal connection. The students partnered with the nonprofit JustServe, Star Mayor Trevor Chadwick, and the City of Star to fund and install a memorial bench and plaque in the park.
A school‑wide fundraiser provided the necessary money to purchase the bench and create a plaque that bears Jeffrey’s name and a QR code linking to a slideshow of his life, compiled by his sister Brooklyn.
Family reflections
Jeffrey’s mother, Jennifer Strafella, said the bench gave her family something hopeful to look forward to during a difficult time. “I was very touched, and it gave us something to look forward to,” she said.
Brooklyn Shepp, Jeffrey’s sister, described her brother as “very goofy, very funny, very loud, but one of the smartest people you’d ever meet.” She added that Jeffrey loved football, wrestling, calisthenics, Fortnite, and hoped to become a firefighter.
Although Jeffrey never attended Star Middle School or lived in Star, the students felt compelled to honor his memory. “The fact that the school took initiative and that the kids actually wanted to do something so meaningful for him was really amazing,” Brooklyn said.
Dedication ceremony
The dedication ceremony drew students, teachers, family members, friends, and several of Jeffrey’s former teachers. Attendees painted rocks with positive messages and placed them around the park before walking together to the newly installed bench.
Brooklyn suggested the rock‑painting element so future visitors would have a way to continue honoring her brother. The QR‑coded plaque allows anyone who visits the bench to learn about Jeffrey’s life, even if they never met him.
Ongoing remembrance and safety advocacy
The Shepp family now regularly visits the bench, decorating it for holidays and for Jeffrey’s birthday on December 4. Jeffrey’s love of Halloween inspired the first decorations placed there this fall.
While the memorial provides comfort, the family continues to advocate for additional warning signs around the pond. Strafella believes clearer signage about sudden depth changes could prevent future tragedies. “There was no warning that there was a sudden abrupt drop in the water level from 2 ft to 12 ft,” she said.
Brooklyn echoed the call for better signage, noting that a warning could have stopped Jeffrey from entering the water.
Impact on students
Nelson said the project left a lasting impression on the students, demonstrating what can happen when a community unites with a shared purpose. “Together we were able to honor Jeffrey’s memory and create a place of peace and remembrance for his family,” she said.
The memorial bench stands as a testament to the compassion and civic spirit of Star’s youth, offering both a place of reflection for the Shepp family and a reminder of the importance of community safety.
Original reporting: KIVI Idaho News 6 Boise metro (local) — read the source article.
