As a New Yorker, I’m constantly reminded of the tragic events of 9/11. I live on Staten Island, and when I’m driving through the streets, I often see two sets of street signs: one for the official name of the street, and another memorial sign that displays the name of a 9/11 victim. American flags now fly from buildings, homes, and even cars at all times of the year, not just for the 4th of July. And of course, there’s that gaping hole in our iconic skyline, as well as in the hearts of everyone who lost loved ones that day.

We’ve got so many visual reminders of 9/11 in New York City on a regular basis that it’s easy for us to forget that the rest of the country mourned that day as well, and that they will be joining us to commemorate the 10th anniversary of that tragic day on Sunday. And we sometimes forget that they’ve been joined with us ever since that day and have created memorials all throughout the country.

Colleges and universities in particular have commemorated the victims and heroes of 9/11 in some very touching ways. Over the past decade, schools have planted trees, erected statues and monuments, and funded scholarships in the memory of 9/11 victims. Many schools will also be honoring the 10th anniversary of 9/11, including these schools:

The University of Denver will sponsor a “tolerance picnic” similar to what was held 15 days after 9/11. At the time, anti-Middle Eastern sentiments caused restaurants serving Middle Eastern cuisine to see a marked decrease in customers. The university’s chancellor at the time, Dan Ritchie, held a campus picnic that was catered by nine Middle Eastern restaurants in Denver. This unifying gesture will be repeated this year on September 12, when the dining halls will close for lunch so that the meal can instead be catered by Middle Eastern restaurants in the area. Additionally, a tulip tree stands near the Sturm College of Law in memory of 1996 law graduate Mari-Rae Sopper, who was a passenger on Flight 77 that struck the Pentagon.

Two alumni of Susquehanna University—Colleen Supinski ’96 and Chris Vialong ’93—were among those we lost a decade ago. In 2002, the university dedicated a memorial to them on campus. Since then, SU purchased a 124-pound piece of debris from Ground Zero, and it will be added to the memorial as part of a rededication ceremony on September 11.

At Roanoke College, the Sigma Chi house has a plaque in memory of Stephen LaMantia, who was one of the many Cantor Fitzgerald employees who died on the 105^th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. The fraternity also offers a scholarship in LaMantia’s name for Roanoke students “whose parents have died in the line of duty.”

Another Cantor Fitzgerald employee, Frank T. Aquilino, is memorialized with a scholarship at his alma mater, York College of Pennsylvania.

Matthew T. McDermott, an Eckerd College alumnus who perished when the towers fell, is honored by his alma mater with an annual golf tournament. This is a fitting tribute to McDermott, who was a passionate golfer, and the tournament has raised more than $150,000 in funds for an endowed scholarship in his name. The scholarship is awarded annually to a senior on the men’s and/or women’s golf team who has demonstrated leadership both on and off the golf course.

The University of Rochester is home to the Jeremy L. Glick Memorial Scholarship. Glick was one of the brave people aboard Flight 93 who helped thwart attempts to crash that plane into the U.S. Capitol. Glick was a member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, and so the scholarship in his name is awarded to students in fraternities or sororities demonstrating financial need.

Please share in the comments section any of the other countless ways in which colleges and universities honor the victims of 9/11.

–Barbara Bellesi