The screen in Muskie Auditorium was black with white text “Becca Mason, 1996-2012<3.” The students became silent.

Carrie Underwood’s “Temporary Home” provided the musical backdrop to a montage of photographs of a beautiful young woman with a huge smile. Interspersed were more black screens. “She was 16 years old. A sophomore in high school. She had big dreams.” “She loved to hunt and go mudding. She definitely was country.”

Then the messages got serious. “Due to a drunk driving accident. Becca was killed. 3. The driver was drunk, and texting. She drifted off the road.”

The video can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYg3LNANlU4.

At the end of the video, Gilbert introduced Jerrold Mason, Becca’s father.

Mason said, “This whole incident was avoidable. Becca snuck out of the house at midnight. She went with kids she didn’t usually hang with. She didn’t have anyone to watch her back. When you’re with your friends, you watch out for each other.”

He read an emotional letter from Becca’s mom, Tracie Mason, who is unable to speak in front of an audience. She wrote, “I do not ask for you to be a saint, but I beg each of you to make good decisions. Do not drive with any amount of alcohol consumption – zero is the only acceptable level; drive smart with caution, without distractions and at acceptable speeds. And I’m not sure this is always stressed enough – do not ever get in a vehicle if you even suspect the driver has been drinking.”

The accident that took Becca’s life happened less than five miles from her home and probably no more than 15 minutes after she left home.

Mason said, “I was a teenager once. I know you want to do things that push the limits. But please stop and think. Listen to your true friends and keep each other safe.

“The only times I got in trouble was when I wasn’t with my close buddies,” he said.

Jerrold listed several ways his life has changed as a result of Becca’s death. “I never realized how much it would bother me to go to the grocery store. My wife has only been three times since January 7. People come up to talk to you and express their sympathy. They mean well but it’s devastating to go through the emotions again.

“Becca’s headstone took us awhile to pick out. As a family, we wondered what to do for Mother’s Day,” he said. “We decided they should deliver her headstone just before Mother’s Day. No family should have that for a celebration.”

To help recover, Mason worked with various politicians to pass a tougher driving law for young drivers.

Mason went back to his theme about friendship. “Be with someone you trust. Don’t be afraid to call mom, dad, aunt, uncle or even the police. You may get a lecture but you’ll be alive.”

The students gave Jerrold a spontaneous standing ovation.