I remember when I heard. I was standing on the foyer of Sigma Chi with my eyes wide, holding my breath. What? I thought. Then I said it out loud. "What?" That's all anyone could really say. They didn't think it could be true. They didn't think that we had really lost him. On September 3, 2012, Xavier Somerville passed away due to his injuries after a tragic, accidental fall. He was a freshman in college.

Those that knew Xavier would describe him as one who "lights up the room." His energy and charisma was infectious and he seldom left anything but a smile on your face if you got the chance to meet him. I was lucky enough to know him even if for only a few weeks and I remember thinking, I can't wait to live in this house with him next year. Xavier was the kind of person that went out of his way to impact other people positively. He had a love for life that inspired everyone he met to try and make their own positive impact in the world. Four of his brothers want to take the impact they saw him make and spread it across the country with The Xavier Project.

Purdue Sigma Chi's Bryan Hall, Ben Waters, Cameron Sanders, and Jake Clark will be traveling across the country in a miniv with two goals. One, to help someone or a group of people make a positive impact in every city they stop in. And two, to get it all on film. They will spend five days in each city, and spend the first one asking everyone they meet one question.

"If you had a week to make a lasting impact on someone's life, what would you do?"

After the first day, the four of them will pick the person they feel that they can help the most among those they meet on the first day. The following four days will then be spent helping that person make their own positive impact on someone else in their community. After the deed is done, they will move on to the next city and repeat the process from coast to coast.

And did I mention they'll be filming it all? They will also be running a blog and social media campaign to chronicle The Xavier Project as it spreads love and happiness across the country. Starting in May, these four guys and an RV will touch both coasts and snake their way north and south across the country, making a difference every where they stop.

You can follow the project at http://www.thexavierproject2015.com. They'll be running the blog and social media in the final months in the semester, so check out the site for more about the project and its inspiration, Xavier. Until then, these guys need our help. There's a link on their site to help them fund their journey as a tribute him. I encourage you all to help them honor a fallen brother, son and dear friend to many.