Derek Kieper lived with a gusto that made most people cringe.Do yourself a favor and read the full article. Then think what it would have been like to have known this guy.
He started fiery debates just to get people thinking and talking.
He usually was the loudest singer in the choir and the loudest guy at parties.
He made his opinions known, even if it meant stepping on some toes – sometimes even breaking toes.
“Derek stood up for what he believed – even if he stood alone, which was usually,” said Ryan Mendlik, Kieper’s friend and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brother.
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As a person, Kieper had many different sides – all of which his friends and family have been reflecting on since his death Tuesday morning.
It was about 3 a.m. when the Ford Explorer he was a passenger in hit a spot of ice, skidded off Interstate 80 just outside of Lincoln and rolled several times, throwing Kieper out of the car.
Kieper was 21. He was a UNL junior with a perfect 4.0 GPA and five different majors – economics, history, sociology, psychology and political science.
He had plans to fill out applications for Truman and Rhodes Scholar scholarships. He was hoping to work at a law firm in Houston this summer. He had plans for the future, a career of some kind in public service.
Daily Nebraskan - Friends, family remember passionate student leader
