Megan Panter’s life remembered on day of 22nd birthday

Friends and family of Megan Panter gathered April 13 at a local art studio to celebrate her life, as well as to raise funds for a scholarship in her name.

Sttendees received an art lesson from owner and operator Rachel Liles to commemorate what would have been Panter’s 22nd birthday.

“Megan’s mom, Kim Merath, actually paints here quite often,” Liles said. “She wanted to book a private party with us, and we later found out it was a fundraiser for a MSU scholarship, so we wanted to help. I thought it was a great fundraiser for a great cause.”

Lies said she believes art is a personal experience for everyone, and holding an event like the paint-in fundraiser is one of the many reasons she enjoys owning and operating the How Great Thou Art art studio, located on 2302 Brook Ave.

Liles taught the 25 people in attendance how to paint a cross. Merath said he chose the theme because of Megan’s love for the arts and painting crosses in her spare time.

“We decided the cross would be a good representation [of her],” Merath said. “She loved to paint crosses, and she was a Christian. As Christians, we wanted to honor our Lord and Megan as well.”

A freshman mass communication, Heather Schweiss, attended the paint-in. Schweiss, a friend of Panter’s brother Braden, said she came to support her friend and his family.

“I wasn’t close with [Panter], but I’m really good friends with her brother and their family,” Schweiss said. “We’re just trying to have fun and celebrate [Panter’s] life instead of her passing. It’s really just about celebrating her, what she loved to do and making today a happier day.”

Braden Panter agreed, saying that he was dedicating the time to do what his sister loved to do. He created the cross with different shades of red, Megan’s favorite color, to remember her and celebrate her birthday. She died after losing control of her car in December of 2012.

The event doubled as a fundraiser for the Megan Panter Scholarship, started this January by Panter’s father, Andrew, to award $500 in the spring and fall semesters to a student majoring in art and theater.

“Megan did not get a chance to go to [MSU], but she wanted to,” Merath said. “We chose [MSU] because it was local, and we wanted to celebrate her life. Megan loved art, and that’s why we set up the art scholarship in her memory.”

Merath said they held the fundraiser to  only help with the upcoming fall scholarship, and to also help the scholarship grow.

“We’re just hoping to raise a lot of money to help another student with whatever their needs are in the art or theater department,” Merath said.

Liles said she agrees with Merath, and said she believes aiding those that have an interest in the arts in this community is an important thing.

“[The arts] is what these kids are missing,” she said. “With all of the technology that we’re exposed to, I think art gets lost or put on the backburner. I think if we can help kids generate that creative expression and interest in art, it’s great, and it’s wonderful to have a wonderful art department in this town to do that.”