By Admin 
Brooks Michael Prejean was a young man whose life, though tragically brief, left a powerful imprint on his community, peers, and those who came to know his story. Born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, Brooks passed away on September 15, 2024, at the age of twenty‑one. Yet in that time he embodied a rare combination of academic ambition, compassion, service, and leadership.
From an early age, Brooks showed promise not only in academics but in the way he cared for others. He attended the Episcopal School of Acadiana (ESA), where he distinguished himself both in the classroom and in extracurricular life. He played on the school’s basketball and baseball teams and earned honors for academic achievement, forming early the habits of excellence and community engagement that would later define him.
Teachers and classmates often remember Brooks for his quiet strength, his steady kindness, and his willingness to lend support to friends who struggled. Rather than seeking attention, he led by example—a trait that would carry into his university years.
After graduating from ESA in 2021, Brooks went on to Louisiana State University (LSU), majoring in Biology as he prepared for a future in medicine. At LSU, his academic record was remarkable: he was repeatedly recognized on the President’s Honor Roll and Dean’s List, and he earned awards such as the Tiger Excellence Scholar Resident Award and the Louisiana Tiger Legacy Superior Award. He also joined Alpha Epsilon Delta, LSU’s premedical society, where his academic dedication and leadership were especially visible.
Beyond academics, Brooks was deeply involved in campus life. He served in LSU Student Government as Assistant Director of Student Outreach, striving to help fellow students have their voices heard. He was also active in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, where he found community and extended his natural gifts for mentorship and connection.
Brooks also dedicated himself to service beyond the campus boundaries. He volunteered with The Hospice of Baton Rouge, offering comfort and companionship to patients and families during difficult times. He worked part time as an Organ Recovery Technician for Southern Eye Bank—an emotionally demanding role in which he contributed to facilitating the recovery of donor tissues to help restore sight for others.
On September 15, 2024, Brooks Prejean died by suicide. The news was shattering to his family, friends, and the LSU community. Many who knew him could not reconcile the image of a driven, kind, accomplished young man with the internal struggles he faced—underscoring just how critical mental health support is, even (and especially) for those who seem to have it all.
In the wake of his passing, countless tributes poured in. LSU awarded him a posthumous Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. His presence was keenly felt in memorial services, vigils, and campus gatherings. A GoFundMe campaign named “Remembering Brooks: A Light That Shines On” raised funds in his memory and for mental health awareness efforts. Through these acts, the community resolved not only to mourn but also to affirm that his life—and the challenges he faced—must lead to greater awareness and care for one another.
Brooks Prejean’s life reminds us of several hard truths:
- Success and struggle often coexist. Just because a person appears strong, accomplished, and connected doesn’t mean they aren’t battling inner wounds.
- It is vital to build cultures—especially in schools and universities—that encourage vulnerability, emotional support, and safe conversations about mental health.
- Acts of service, however small, also carry power. Whether through volunteer work or professional contributions, Brooks repeatedly chose to help others, showing that compassion is a sustaining force.
- Legacies do not have to be grand to be meaningful. Even in his short time, Brooks touched many lives through kindness, empathy, and commitment.
Brooks Michael Prejean was more than a student or a title. He was a friend, a brother, a representative of hope and giving. Though his journey ended far too soon, the ripples of his life continue. His story challenges us to recognize pain in others, to reach out before it’s too late, and to build support systems that help light paths through darkness.
In remembering Brooks, we honor not just his achievements but his spirit, his sacrifice, and his call to care—for others and for ourselves. His light, though extinguished too early in this world, persists in the lives he influenced and the conversations he still inspires.