Honoring Ethan Hill at his alma mater Hendrix College

Ethan Martin Sollie Hill of Melbourne, Australia, passed away on August 8, 2024.

Ethan was born on September 27, 1992, in Opelika, Alabama, the only child of Donna Sollie and Chuck Hill of Auburn. He was a graduate of Auburn High and Hendrix College. He held a Master's degree in Socio-Spatial Planning from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. After graduation, Ethan served as a Regional Planner in Auckland, New Zealand. At the time of his death, he was a Senior Policy Advisor for the State of Victoria, Australia.

Ethan is fondly remembered by his classmates at Hendrix College, many of whom were very much hoping to seeing him at the 10 year reunion in April 2025.

To acknowledge and celebrate Ethan's life, fellow alumni are raising funds to plant a tree with a plaque (we all know Ethan loved climbing those trees on campus!). The cost for this is estimated to be about $1,000. If the fundraiser exceeds this, we can also reserve and engrave a niche at the Memorial Garden on campus. The cost is $2,500.

The Hendrix Memorial Garden is a quiet spot on campus with niches/urns/plaques engraved with the names of loved ones who spent part of their life in the beautiful corner of the world known as Hendrix College. This garden encourages visitation for family members and friends with convenient parking only a minute's walk away.

Our hope is to raise the funds by our 10 year anniversary weekend on April 4 - 6, 2025. Grief shared is grief lessened, so we want to memorialize Ethan together during the reunion.

We knew and loved Ethan for his contagious energy and kindness. His presence is immeasurably woven into our memories of college. This memorial will be a physical tribute to the way he lives on in our connection to Hendrix forever.

If our fundraising goal is not met or there is a surplus, the money will be re-directed to a charity of Chuck and Donna's choosing.