UCO Holds Candlelight Vigil For Student Killed In OSU Homecoming Crash

Students gather at the University of Central Oklahoma to remember a woman who came to the United States with a dream.

Nikita Nakal, an MBA student from India, is one of four people killed Saturday as a car crashed into the OSU homecoming parade crowd.

It was a moving ceremony for a young lady who had only been here in the United States for a few months. But during that short time we're told she touched the lives of everyone she met. 

10/26/2015 Related Story: Friends Mourn UCO Student Nikita Nakal, Killed In OSU Homecoming Tragedy

“She was incredibly excited about coming to the United States. This was her first time in the United States,” said UCO graduate student Akash Patel.

Nikita had just starting working on her MBA at UCO in July. Her classmates shared those special moments they had with her. 

“Despite the fact that we were both from different parts of the world, it's amazing how we just connected and we just kicked off like that,” said a student.

“She was never in a bad mood. She never had a bad day. The class isn't going to be the same without her,” said another friend.

The incredible showing of love and support has reached her family and friends thousands of miles away in India.

“The people in Oklahoma care, and the people in Oklahoma are devastated by what happened to her because of the bad choices of a person,” Patel said. “We feel the pain and the suffering that the family has to go through at this moment.” 

Nikita, from Mumbai, India, was one of the four killed Saturday during OSU's homecoming parade. 

It was her very first parade and she planned to go to her first football game that night.

“I remember her walking around with a beautiful smile on campus,” Patel said.  

“She was full of life. Like there was never a dull moment with her,” a student said.  

“Very beautiful inside and out,” another student said.  

“She will truly be missed by UCO."  

There is another memorial planned for this Friday on campus. The business college is also planning to create a scholarship in Nikita’s name.