Four Lights Memorial

On October 17, 2023, Pepperdine University lost four bright lights—students Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams—in a tragic accident on Pacific Coast Highway. The students, all four of whom were seniors and members of the Alpha Phi sorority on campus, shared a deep, personal bond as friends and were beloved across the University.

The memorial was conceived by president Jim Gash in the days following news of the loss. Born out of the deep grief of that tragic day, President Gash made a promise to the Pepperdine community that the University would never forget the four students and that their lights would shine on campus forever.

Set against a panoramic backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and nestled in a quiet courtyard behind Stauffer Chapel, the permanent memorial to Niamh, Peyton, Asha, and Deslyn is designed with four individual lights inscribed with the names and intended graduation years of the four students. The lasting tribute will provide all who visit an opportunity to remember the enduring light of Niamh, Peyton, Asha, and Deslyn that will continue to shine at Pepperdine.

The memorial opened to the public on April 18, 2024, with an event held at Stauffer Chapel.

Our Four Angels Endowed Scholarship

Pepperdine established the Our Four Angels Endowed Scholarship in March 2024 in partnership with the Rolston, Stewart, Weir, and Williams families to honor the students’ memories and continue the legacies of Niamh, Peyton, Asha, and Deslyn. Funds gathered through the scholarship will contribute to the academic pursuits of students and serve as a beacon of hope and remembrance for the lives that touched ours so profoundly. For more information and to support the fund, visit the Our Four Angels Endowed Scholarship website.