College mourns CEEN senior Vedant Patel

Vedant Patel, a senior in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering, died March 5 in Omaha of stab wounds.

Patel was born in India and as a youth moved with his family to the United States. He studied at the college's Omaha program at The Peter Kiewit Institute, where he had been on the Dean’s List and served as an Engineering Diplomat who gave tours to incoming students and helped them transition to the college.

Patel was expected to finish his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer & Electronics Engineering and graduate in May 2012. He planned to begin a job with John Deere in North Carolina after commencement.

Patel's professor, CEEN Department Chairman Bing Chen, said he feels like he has lost a son. Chen described Patel as a “magnetic, radiant, full of joy” type of person who would continually reach out to others.

Visitation for family and friends is Thursday, March 8, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Dugan Funeral Chapel in Fremont, Neb. The service will be held Friday, March 9, beginning at 10 a.m.

UPDATE: Vedant Patel Scholarship Fund Announced

The Vendant Patel Scholarship Fund has been established. Should anyone like to make a gift: checks may be made payable to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the Vedant Patel Scholarship Fund, 2285 South 67th Street, Suite 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. Donations for the Vedant Patel Scholarship Fund are also accepted online.