A memorial spaghetti dinner honoring the late Jeffrey Kovatch, Marshall University associate professor of biological sciences, who passed away Nov. 5, will take place Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Don Morris Room of the Memorial Student Center.

The event was created by senior biochemistry major Amanda Smythers, who worked with Si Chi, the neuroscience club, honor society Gamma Beta Phi, SOAP and Alpha Chi Sigma, the chemistry fraternity Smythers represents, in order to organize an intra-organizational committee to plan the dinner.

“I knew a lot of students would want to do something to help the Kovatch family, particularly since he was such a large presence in the College of Science and Dr. (Paige) Muellerleile is such a large presence in the College of Liberal Arts,” Smythers said. “I went through a list of other organizations who I thought may have a connection to Dr. Kovatch or Muellerleile and everybody jumped on board and embraced the idea.”

Tickets for the event are $7 per person or $25 for a family of four and all funds will go directly to Muellerleile. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance in room 477 of the Science Building or in the MU Women’s Center.

All labor and food for the event has been provided by Sodexo at no cost.

“We know that this time is really emotional and traumatic, and incredibly difficult with the holidays coming up, so we’re hoping we get a lot of community support so at least some of their burden is lifted,” Smythers said.

In addition to the spaghetti dinner, children will have the opportunity to create holiday decorations which will then be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. For those who are unable to attend the event, donations can be made by contacting Smythers.

“Where I’m from, you don’t see this type of community embracing that you do at Marshall,” Smythers said. “I think one of the reasons that this campus and this school is so unique and inviting is that the students and faculty really take care of each other, both within individual departments and as a greater community. I think this represents that idea that if somebody is hurting, we all want to try to pitch in however we can.”

Olivia Zarilla can be contacted at [email protected].