Alison Ciancio touched many lives during her three semesters at Iowa State. Now, her peers are finding many ways to honor and remember Ciancio, who was a classmate, student and friend.

“I met her through my roommate,” said Katie Meyer, sophomore in dairy science. “She was an extremely nice and sweet person. She was always there if you needed someone to talk to.”

Ciancio, sophomore in animal science, died Jan. 6 after a head-on collision in her hometown of Havertown, Pa., according to the Delaware County Daily Times. She was the driver for a group of four friends. No one else was seriously injured in the accident.

“She was just one of those students that everyone could turn to,” said Howard Tyler, associate professor of animal science and biomedical engineering. “She was everyone’s designated

driver.”

Howard Shapiro, vice provost for undergraduate programs, said the College of Agriculture dean will be meeting with others in the college and making a recommendation about other ways Ciancio could be honored.

In the meantime, Ciancio will be honored in the Dairy Science Club’s annual yearbook. Ciancio was the historian of the club. The yearbook, “Squirts `n’ Kicks,” was being designed at the time of the accident. The students working on the yearbook wanted a tribute to Ciancio, Tyler said.

Robin Steffen, sophomore in pre-advertising and member of the Dairy Science Club, said two pages in the yearbook are dedicated to Ciancio.

Tyler said the yearbook would be available to the public at the annual dairy science banquet. The banquet, planned for March 3, will honor Ciancio, and her family will be present for the banquet, Tyler said.

Steffen said she knows Ciancio’s family is planning to use money that Ciancio had intended to use for an upcoming club trip to establish a scholarship in her name. There will also be a donation for the scholarship at the banquet.

The Dairy Science Club also has a display case in Kildee Hall where they have placed a tribute to Ciancio, Tyler said.

Steffen said all the tributes to honor Ciancio are “a very good idea” and provide a way for some people to “come to grips” with Ciancio’s death.

“One thing she is most remembered for is how she could always make you smile,” she said.