Kaliegh's Story
As most parents would say when talking about their own kids, Kaliegh was an amazing girl. As she finished her freshman year at the University of Central Florida, all of her dreams and goals were still in front of her. Kaliegh did so many amazing things and impacted so many people in her 19 years. I don’t think I even realized that until I saw the crowd of over 1000 people that attended her Celebration of Life Service on that Wednesday afternoon in June 2013.
Although Kaliegh’s hair was the first thing that got your attention, it was her personality that kept you interested. She had the ability to pull you in with her vibrant and goofy personality. She hated to see anyone left out and always wanted everyone to get along and be included. Kaliegh had four or five loves: her church, her high school and friends, cheerleading, her sorority, and football. She grew up in the church at Northland. She was so grounded in her faith, attending over 15 retreats, was a high school leader to the middle school students and she had the pleasure of going on a mission trip down the Amazon River in South America. For her four years of high school she gave up almost every Saturday night to help the middle school students through those tough tween years, and she never complained and felt there was no better place to be than at church. Kaliegh had a great core of friends from Lake Mary High School. They came from many different backgrounds, they did everything together. Cheerleading was a lifelong love. She started cheering at the age of 5, all the way through her senior year in high school. She loved the butterflies you got before the performance of all-star cheerleading, but nothing compared to cheering on Friday night for the high school football game. Kaliegh joined the Alpha Delta Pi sorority at the University of Central Florida. She was totally in her element at the sorority. Although she only got to be around these girls for a year, she immediately bonded and formed some amazing friendships. She felt like she was blessed with 100 new sisters. Her last love and biggest love was her love of football. As early as elementary school she always told me that one day she would play football. Even though she never did, she could hold her own with her football knowledge against anyone. Whether she was cheering on her high school team, her Florida Gators or UCF Knights, she always knew exactly what was happening and wouldn’t be afraid to tell the coaches what they should be doing. She was a coach in the stands.
Kaliegh made a huge impression on everyone she came across. Since her car accident, I have been amazed by the stories that have been shared with me in person or over social media. Sorority sisters would contact me through Facebook and tell me stories, kids she went to school with but really didn’t know very well would tell us how she impacted their life. She did amazing things. Kaliegh loved her country music and most people remember her driving around town in her yellow VW bug, with the windows down, the sun roof open blaring Florida-Georgia Line, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan or Taylor Swift. She knew the words to every song, sang as loud as possible, with not a care in the world.
Kaliegh died in a car accident on Interstate 10, outside of Tallahassee near Live Oak. She was doing what she did best, helping out a good friend. One of her best friends had to be in Tallahassee and since her parents weren’t going with her, Kaliegh did not want her to go alone. She was going there to support a good friend. She called the trip another adventure, she never came home.
We so wish we could have a do-over, but we can’t.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share Kaliegh’s story with you. Even though I’m very proud, I’m not afraid to say this was written with many tears falling.
KEN OTTIS (DAD)
As most parents would say when talking about their own kids, Kaliegh was an amazing girl. As she finished her freshman year at the University of Central Florida, all of her dreams and goals were still in front of her. Kaliegh did so many amazing things and impacted so many people in her 19 years. I don’t think I even realized that until I saw the crowd of over 1000 people that attended her Celebration of Life Service on that Wednesday afternoon in June 2013.
Although Kaliegh’s hair was the first thing that got your attention, it was her personality that kept you interested. She had the ability to pull you in with her vibrant and goofy personality. She hated to see anyone left out and always wanted everyone to get along and be included. Kaliegh had four or five loves: her church, her high school and friends, cheerleading, her sorority, and football. She grew up in the church at Northland. She was so grounded in her faith, attending over 15 retreats, was a high school leader to the middle school students and she had the pleasure of going on a mission trip down the Amazon River in South America. For her four years of high school she gave up almost every Saturday night to help the middle school students through those tough tween years, and she never complained and felt there was no better place to be than at church. Kaliegh had a great core of friends from Lake Mary High School. They came from many different backgrounds, they did everything together. Cheerleading was a lifelong love. She started cheering at the age of 5, all the way through her senior year in high school. She loved the butterflies you got before the performance of all-star cheerleading, but nothing compared to cheering on Friday night for the high school football game. Kaliegh joined the Alpha Delta Pi sorority at the University of Central Florida. She was totally in her element at the sorority. Although she only got to be around these girls for a year, she immediately bonded and formed some amazing friendships. She felt like she was blessed with 100 new sisters. Her last love and biggest love was her love of football. As early as elementary school she always told me that one day she would play football. Even though she never did, she could hold her own with her football knowledge against anyone. Whether she was cheering on her high school team, her Florida Gators or UCF Knights, she always knew exactly what was happening and wouldn’t be afraid to tell the coaches what they should be doing. She was a coach in the stands.
Kaliegh made a huge impression on everyone she came across. Since her car accident, I have been amazed by the stories that have been shared with me in person or over social media. Sorority sisters would contact me through Facebook and tell me stories, kids she went to school with but really didn’t know very well would tell us how she impacted their life. She did amazing things. Kaliegh loved her country music and most people remember her driving around town in her yellow VW bug, with the windows down, the sun roof open blaring Florida-Georgia Line, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan or Taylor Swift. She knew the words to every song, sang as loud as possible, with not a care in the world.
Kaliegh died in a car accident on Interstate 10, outside of Tallahassee near Live Oak. She was doing what she did best, helping out a good friend. One of her best friends had to be in Tallahassee and since her parents weren’t going with her, Kaliegh did not want her to go alone. She was going there to support a good friend. She called the trip another adventure, she never came home.
We so wish we could have a do-over, but we can’t.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share Kaliegh’s story with you. Even though I’m very proud, I’m not afraid to say this was written with many tears falling.
KEN OTTIS (DAD)
