UMW community mourns death of student
2 min readBy HOPE RACINE
On Tuesday, March 24 the University of Mary Washington community was notified of the passing of junior theatre major Scott Houk.
Houk passed away Monday evening in his room in Mason Hall. Police are currently investigating his death, though no foul play is currently suspected.
The loss of the 21-year-old actor reverberated through campus and was felt keenly in the theatre department. Houk took to the Klein Theatre stage twice, portraying “Sebastian” in “The Tempest” and more recently, he played Adult Man in “Spring Awakening.”
“Our hearts are broken as we grapple with the unimaginable loss of Scott Houk, theatre major, actor, gentle spirit, and beloved friend,” read a statement on the UMW Theatre Department’s Facebook page. “Our thoughts are with his family and many friends.”
Associate Vice President and Dean of Student Life Cedric Rucker said Houk’s death was a significant loss to the UMW community.
“Our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers go out to his family, and as a member of the university community he will forever be with us,” said Rucker.
“We are reminded of how precious our time is with one another,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Doug Searcy. “We encourage all of our community to be intentional about connecting with friends and loved ones.”
A memorial service for Houk will be held on Friday, March 27 at 4 p.m. at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Services. In lieu of flowers, Houk’s family will be accepting donations in Scott’s name to the Mountain View High School Drama Department, located in Stafford.