By Jason Piscia
Staff Writer - 5/13/00

Almost 14 months ago, a drunken driver ended Sarah Towery's quest to earn a bachelor's degree, a goal that would have been realized today at University of Illinois at Springfield graduation ceremonies.

But with the help of an airplane and a special arrangement with UIS, Towery's family will still be able to celebrate the determination of Sarah - who was killed March 21,1999 -- to obtain a degree in business administration.

Sarah's father, Dan Towery, has chartered a private plane to fly from his hometown of Lafayette, Ind., to Springfield so he can attend this afternoon's UIS graduation accept his daughter's diploma, which is being awarded posthumously.

And after that certain-to-be emotional event, Towery will immediately get back on the plane and return to Indiana to celebrate the graduation of his other daughter, Lisa, who is participating in commencement exercises at Purdue University this afternoon.

Even with the airplane, Towery said, he'll miss the actual ceremony at Purdue but will catch the reception being held later. His wife, Margie, plans to attend the entire Purdue ceremony.

The 325-mile round trip is an ambitous plan, but Towery said his family wouldn't have it any other way.

"If Sarah was alive, this is what we would do," he said.

Towery said he and his family realized about two years ago that Sarah and Lisa were both on track to graduate at the end of this school year.

But those expectations were tragically thrown off course with Sarah's death in Lafayette last year. Sarah, 24, of Auburn, and her boyfriend, Earl E. "Chip" Smith III, 20, of Riverton, were in Indiana visiting Dan and Margie.

Chip and Sarah were in one car and Dan and Margie were in another as they all were driving to a park near Lafayette to go on an afternoon hike. But on the way, an out-of-control pickup truck narrowly missed the parents' car and slammed into Chip's vehicle, killing Chip and Sarah.

Towery said he watched helplessly through his rearview mirror as the crash occurred.

Authorities said the pickup driver, who also was killed in the fiery collision, was driving with traces of cocaine in his system, as well as a blood alcohol level of 0.27, almost three times the legal limit in Indiana.

The driver, Jeffrey A. Trout, 39, of Lafayette, also had previous drunken driving convictions and had a suspended license at the time of the crash.

Since the deaths, Towery has been on a personal crusade against drunken driving, pressuring Indiana lawmakers to pass stiffer laws to prevent people like Trout from being on the road.

"I blame the system as much as the drunk driver," said Towery, who also has helped launch a local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Sarah, who worked full time while pursuing her UIS degree part time, was just five classes away from graduating when the crash happened. With the expectation that she would have finished her coursework by this spring, UIS approved the request to have the degree awarded posthumously.

The school then called Sarah's parents to arrange today's event. Upon hearing of the conflict with the Purdue ceremony, UIS suggested holding off on honoring Sarah until next year.

"But that didn't seem appropriate because Sarah would be graduating now," Towery said.

A UIS administrator said she hopes other students who juggle jobs and school are inspired by Sarah's resolve to get a degree.

It's really a way to encourage our non-traditional students to continue trying to achieve their dreams," said Marya Leatherwood, interim dean for UIS's College of Business and Management.

The Towery family also hopes to help UIS students. They've established a scholarship fund, reserved for part-time students, in Sarah's name.

Before Dan Towery arrives at UIS this morning, he plans to meet with family members of Chip, who was a volunteer Riverton firefighter and an aspiring emergency medical technician.

The group will stop by Lincoln Memorial Garden, where a new white oak bench recently was installed. The bench includes the engraved names of Sarah and Chip, along with a quotation from Jens Jensen, renowned designer of the garden.

The quote reads: "There is youth and strength and song in the rejuvenated green ... as it bursts forth every spring."

Jason Piscia can be reached at 788-1525 or jason.piscia@sj-r.com.