Loetz Overcomes Tragedy Graduating From SU
Students graduating with honors at Salisbury University were asked to write a speech for the commencement ceremony. They presented the speeches in front of a committee and one was selected, it was written by Kristen Loetz.
Kristen Loetz says, “It’s an incredible honor I’m so excited to be doing it.”
A little over a year ago, Kristen was shot three times while in her home on Onley Road in Salisbury, with her best friend C.J. Abbott. The shooter, was her ex-boyfriend 21-year-old Ryan Shallue whom she dated for three years. Shallue had been asking to come over, and even though Kristen said no, Shallue ended up in her apartment.
He pulled a gun, and C.J. immediately went to grab it and was shot and killed. Shallue eventually shot and killed himself during the rampage.
Loetz continues, “A lot of what’s motivated me and pushed me to get to this point is what happened to me, so I kind of twisted it around to make it a positive experience.”
In her speech, Kristen talked her about her tragedy but more importantly, spoke of how her Salisbury university family helped her stay “bury strong.” She says SU helped her get through numerous surgeries, hospital trips to Baltimore, and speech therapy. The support allowed her to receive her nursing degree just one semester later than she was supposed to.
Colette Loetz, Kristen’s mother says, “She didn’t know if she could go back into a hospital, but she pushed through it and I think she’s going to be an amazing nurse.”
August Loetz, Kristen’s father says, “I don’t how she did it, I couldn’t have done it, but she made her way through it.”
Kristen says it’s really all the support from her school and family that got her to this point. However, she’s not just accepting this diploma for herself, there’s also someone else on her mind as she walks across the stage.
Kristen Loetz goes on, “I’ll definitely be thinking of CJ who isn’t able to be here, but I know he’s in my heart, and he’ll be thinking of me and I’m thinking of him.”
