Knightly News

“Look for the light shining around you. Be part of it and take from it what you need.” Episcopal Head Chaplain Father Patrick Edwards welcomed the Upper School community back to a somber chapel service in the wake of the tragic events of January 1st. He reminded the gathered students, faculty and staff that love and light cannot be hidden. Only days before, the chapel served as the venue for the larger Episcopal community to gather and process the loss of alumnus Kareem Badawi ’24 and the critical injury of alumnus Parker Vidrine ’24. The former classmates and friends were in New Orleans with numerous Episcopal alumni to celebrate a new year, new possibilities and the unlimited potential of youth when the unimaginable happened. Now, as the Episcopal community struggles to make sense of what took place, we also reflect on the positive light and the lasting impacts these graduates had as part of our school family.

Responsible, kind, unassuming, thoughtful, respectful and confident are just a few of the words Upper School Division Head Tom Forti uses to describe Kareem. “I have a mental picture of him with a big smile,” he says. He also chuckles as he recalls looking up at Kareem, who towered above most, with Kareem looking down with that signature smile. “He had an innate self-confidence and could seamlessly move in and out of social circles,” says Forti. 

Many will remember Kareem for his academic and athletic success; however, those who love and know him best will remember his remarkable character. Kareem’s brother, Omar ’22, and sister, Mira ’23, are also Episcopal graduates as well as numerous cousins. “Making people happy and being around family” made Kareem happy, recalls Head Football and Baseball Coach Travis Bourgeois. “There wasn’t a mean bone in his body.” “His natural talents and personality made him stand out,” says Upper School Dean of Student Life and English Teacher Scott Engholm. “Kareem was a kind and generous person,” says Kareem’s math teacher Mark Landry. “He was quite clever and possessed a relaxed yet determined personality that made him well-liked. He was a leader among his peers and never backed down from challenges.”

Kareem tackled academics with determination. He was an AP Scholar with Honor, a member of the National Honor Society and earned a spot on the Episcopal Head of School List. “He was always prepared, and he was always ready to work,” says Engholm. “Kareem’s devotion and tenacity as a worker and thinker were constant. I probably had more conferences with him than any other students. And these were driven by his own desire to improve, to have himself critiqued, and to get feedback. He had high standards for himself, and he worked to reach them.” Landry has a similar assessment, pointing out that Kareem always wanted to understand and master the topics covered in class. “He does not do his work to ‘get it done,’ but rather to learn and understand the topics that are being introduced,” he wrote in Kareem’s college letter of recommendation. “Although Kareem is very talented, he does not rely on his talents alone,” wrote Landry. “He is also willing to buckle down and work harder when things become challenging.” 

That sense of purpose followed Kareem to the football field. “Kareem loved sports,” says Coach Bourgeois, who coached Kareem for four years. Kareem moved into the position of defensive end his last two years of high school, and defensive line Coach Bill Jones remembers watching him grow into the role. “We saw him getting tougher and better,” he recalls. “He had an outstanding senior year, knocking down passes. He’s just a great kid.” Jones points out that the 2023 defense was a tight-knit group of competitors, with Kareem and his best friend Ethan Ott ’24 serving as bookends on the line. 

Kareem’s positive athletic presence extended well beyond the defense. Coach Bourgeois says Kareem was always there and could always be counted on. “He was a great role model for young players,” he says. Coach Jones agrees and says Kareem humbly led by example. In addition to the other academic honors, Kareem was also recognized as an outstanding academic student athlete. “He earned Composite Academic All-State, which is hard to do,” says Bourgeois. According to LHSAA, the All-Academic Award Program recognizes the academic excellence of senior student-athletes. To earn Composite Team honors, a student athlete’s six-semester GPA must have an un-weighted 4.00. In addition to the All-Academic recognition, Kareem was named Honorable Mention in the 6-AA All-District honors. The Episcopal coaches awarded him the 2023 Coaches Award, and he earned the 2023 Scholastic Award.  

While our community comes to terms with the loss of such a bright alumnus, we are also thinking about classmate and friend Parker Vidrine, who was critically injured in the attack. Parker has a long connection with Episcopal as a Legacy family member. His mother, Andrea, graduated from Episcopal in 1994 and is currently the school’s Assistant Director of Admission and Enrollment for Lower School. In addition, his father, Kyle ’94, and sister, Kaitlyn ’23, also graduated from Episcopal.

Kind, sharp, thoughtful, earnest and joyful are some of the words Episcopal educators use to describe Parker. Forti points out what may be Parker’s most important trait during recovery – resilience. Forti says he has witnessed Parker’s maturity and growth and seen him overcome challenges, and he is confident that Parker will recover and continue pursuing his dreams. In English class, Engholm also witnessed Parker’s resilience. “Parker defines himself as a person with an undaunted sense of joy,” he says. “It appears in and out of class—-effortlessly." College Counselor Julia Spaht worked closely with Parker as he planned for the future. “In our interactions, Parker was humble, genuine, and gracious,” she says. “He was proud of the challenges he’d overcome and knew his hard work would pay off in a college setting.” 

Parker’s zest for life and the school community was evident as a member of the Knights baseball team. When the ’24 team dyed their hair blonde to boost morale, Parker was among them. Coach Bourgeois remembers the team’s enthusiasm and antics with a laugh. “He enjoyed being a part of the team and gutting it out,” he says. Bourgeois respects Parker for sticking it out and making the most of his team and school experience.

Nothing can prepare a family or a community for an experience such as this. Parker is on the road to recovery and will be surrounded by family and friends the entire way. Even as we mourn, we know that Kareem’s light shines on through his positive impact on others. He lives on each time a teacher or coach remembers that smile or a teammate recalls a shared laugh. In addition, his family and friends have promised to honor him by making the world a better place – something Kareem certainly did as a member of the Episcopal community. 

Our community hurts alongside the Badawi and Vidrine families. Just days after the events in New Orleans, the community gathered in the Lewis Family Memorial Chapel of the Good Shepherd to mourn the loss of Kareem and pray for the quick recovery of Parker. In a tremendous outpouring of love, the chapel overflowed with families, friends, faculty and staff. With the Badawi family in attendance, the gathering transformed into a profound moment filled with tearful hugs and words of comfort. The love for these alumni and the strength of the Episcopal community reverberated through the space and lingered into the evening. Later, alumni, classmates and former teammates gathered in large numbers to say goodbye to Kareem during his funeral service. They are now rallying around Parker as he recovers.

We will not forget the positive impacts of Kareem and Parker as members of our community. We will not let this horrific act hide our love and light, and we will continue to work for a brighter future. We hope you will join us in continued efforts to support these families and each other as we strive to find and share light in this difficult moment of darkness. 

There are currently numerous opportunities to support the Badawi and Vidrine families. Learn about two of them below.

#AlwaysaKnight

gofundme

gofundme