Lights shone on the Russellville High School baseball field as hundreds of mourners remembered a recent graduate had no enemies and went out of his way help others.
The late Kaleb Libbert embodied the ideals of the newly-formed Students Changing Lives, shown as the Greek letters Sigma Chi Lambda - integrity, honesty, loyalty, respect and honor.
Cole County Sheriff's Department School Resource Officer Deputy Joe Matherne talked with Libbert years ago about organizing a fraternity that encourages brotherly bonds and community service.
"If he was still here, he would be part of this group," Matherne said.
In mid-September, Students Changing Lives began with President Adam Kennedy and Vice President Cory Minor and support from Chris Cinotto, fire chief for the Russellville-Lohman Fire Protection District.
"We're here to make a change; we want everybody to hop on board," Minor said.
After being dazed by the news about Libbert's death, Kennedy responded by asking Matherne if they could host the candlelight service.
"I thought it was a good way to represent his life," Kennedy said. "He was a light that he brought to others' lives."
The organization is not affiliated directly with the school nor with any national entity.
"We're here to give back to the community," Matherne said.
The school has many positive organizations that have specific interests or outlets for students. With Students Changing Lives, Matherne sees the students reaching out to build a bond with the community.
Matherne also envisions the organization crossing cliques and social groups.
Members sign an agreement to be drug and alcohol free, to carry a C average in school, to reflect good citizenship and to have a 90 percent attendance rate.
They know by joining there are no rewards or awards except the satisfaction of helping, Matherne said.
"A lot of times giving back is fun," Kennedy said.
The selfless qualities expected of Students Changing Lives members also make for good future firemen and law enforcement, Cinotto and Matherne agreed. But that's not why they're doing this.
"We're teaching great values to these men and women," Cinotto said. "They can touch people we can't as the fire chief or SRO."
This Friday, Students Changing Lives will have its first booth at the annual School Carnival. They already had planned to do a bake sale, but instead of going toward their start-up costs, the organization decided to donate proceeds to the Libbert family.
In the future, SCL hopes to adopt-a-highway, participate in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge, take a homebound fellow fishing and maybe start a mentoring program at the elementary school.
Matherne, who has organized elaborate docudramas in the spring near Prom time, hopes to engage Students Changing Lives in growing that effort to educate peers about the harms of drinking and driving.
"I think we've done quite a bit already," Kennedy said. "But we plan to do more.
"It feels good to be an example for years to come."