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York Daily Record Feature on Vigil 

The funeral is set for Saturday, June 25 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in York. Viewing will begin at 9:30 a.m. The service will begin at 11 a.m. 

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University mourns the loss of Amanda Strous '11/'15M, who died Saturday.
 
Strous played field hockey at Shippensburg from 2007-10, graduating in the spring of 2011 with a bachelor of science in psychology and a minor in art.
 
She was a forward who played in 79 games for the Raiders, totaling 24 goals and 13 assists for 61 career points.
 
As a senior in 2010, a season in which Shippensburg competed in the NCAA Division II National Championship game, Strous served as a team captain and had a career year. She totaled 11 goals and five assists.
 
After spending her first year after graduation as an assistant coach at Hamilton College (N.Y.), Strous returned to Shippensburg in the fall of 2012 – beginning a three-year run as an assistant coach to Bertie Landes while studying for her master's degree.
 
In 2013, Strous was the primary assistant on the Shippensburg squad that won its first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship. Two years later, Strous earned her master's degree in mental health counseling from Shippensburg.   
 
"One life matters, and indeed, the life of Amanda Strous mattered to her teammates, friends, her family and her beloved Ship Family," head coach Bertie Landes said. "Her love, care and concern for each of us was reflected in her daily life while at Ship and in her move to North Carolina."
 
Landes added: "I can still hear her laughter and her voice. Her memory will live in our hearts forever. May the lessons she taught us through her passion for life guide us in the days ahead. Our thoughts and prayers are for her fiancé and her family in the difficult days ahead. May we all re-dedicate ourselves to serving others as Amanda did in her short life with us."

While she was earning her master's degree, Amanda was a master's level intern in the University Counseling Center. According to Dr. Philip Henry, center director, "Amanda was admired and deeply appreciated for her work as a counseling trainee. The entire staff considered her to be a truly dedicated professional who loved her work. Her clients benefitted from her emotional presence and concern for their well-being. We are heart-broken by her tragic death."

Shippensburg University President Jody Harpster expressed his condolences on behalf of the campus community:
 
"The Shippensburg University family is in shock after learning about the tragic death of Amanda, an outstanding young woman who was an integral part of the Shippensburg community for so many years.
           
While she was here as an undergraduate, Amanda epitomized the true spirit of a student-athlete, excelling not only in field hockey competitions but also as a student. When she returned to coach and earn her master's degree, she again excelled in both arenas. Her guidance as a coach helped numerous players improve and her work as a an intern in the University Counseling Center aided students in need. I am sure that the students with whom she worked at Central Piedmont Community College were also fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from her.
           
The loss felt by her parents and family, her fiancé and the many others whose lives she touched is immeasurable, but everyone who knew and loved her will always keep her in their hearts and in their memories."  

 Strous, 27, was engaged to be married on July 30.

Members of the Counseling Center are available to provide support for anyone who knew Amanda.
 
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During her graduate studies, Amanda took a master's course called "Death and Dying." In that class, she wrote the following — which is being shared at the request of her parents Eric and Crystal.

"Ship Field Hockey and My Teammates,
Ship Hockey was some of the best times of my life and it always held a special place in my heart. It taught me so much more than just how to be an athlete and even though some of those life lessons were tough to learn, I am very grateful for them. This program shaped me into a better person. As you all know, Ship Hockey is more than just a team, it's family. I was blessed to have a family of sisters to form a bond with that was so rare. The bonds go way beyond the sport and last many years after being an athlete. I wanted to say thank you to all of my teammates, coaches and players that played a supportive and inspirational role in my life. I was proud to be a Lady Raider and that will never change. Ladies, thank you so much for sharing the passion we had for the sport we loved. It changed my life and so did you all. I love my best friend ship hockey. Please continue to find passion and meaning in your life, for without those two things life is meaningless. Celebrate my life and reminisce through the good times, because I am in a better place and you only live once."