BY RACHEL CHARLTON, Staff Reporter

Central’s annual powerlifting competition is taking on a somber tone this year after being named the Aaron Harrison Memorial Powerlifting Competition. The event will run this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Recreation Center weight room, with a memorial service at 10 a.m. for friends and family to honor and remember Harrison.

A Central student and University Recreation employee, Harrison was just 15 credits shy of the graduation requirement before his untimely death last summer at age 45. Harrison had been working closely with his Anthropology major advisor, Dr. Pat McCutcheon, before drowning in the Yakima River. A dedicated student and hard worker, Harrison maintained a 3.8 GPA while still enjoying fishing and camping in his free time.

“Aaron was a fun-loving, hardworking, non-traditional student in every sense of the word. Those who met Aaron remembered him, and he made a lasting impact on the lives of our students here in Recreation,” Eric Scott, director of University Recreation, said. “He loved to tell stories and jokes at work.”

The lifting competition, sponsored by University Recreation, has been an annual event, but this will be the first year that it takes on a different title. A $25 entry fee is required for competitors. The competition will consist of a dead lift and bench press in various weight classes. Winners will be awarded based on weight class.

“It’s my hope that we are able to get together – the people on campus that knew and loved Aaron – and share our stories together,” Scott said.