Staff Writer
Frisco, Ill., freshman Kevin Signo died Sunday morning after suffering injuries from practicing backflips for a Filipino Student Association event.
Signo lived in Martin Hall and studied pre-med biology at Baylor. Saturday evening Signo was practicing with friends in Marrs McLean Gym when he did a flip and landed on his forehead.
Austin freshman Nathan Elequin said Signo’s friends called an ambulance, which took him to Hillcrest Medical Center. At the medical center, he was put under severe pain medication while under life support. Elequin was in Poppers, Lockers and Breakers with Signo but was not present during the incident.
Around 4 a.m. on Sunday Signo had extreme swelling in his brain and was taken off life support because of the pain he was suffering, Elequin said.
Signo was involved in many Baylor organizations such as Poppers, Lockers, and Breakers, Asians for Christ, Filipino Student Association and the Vietnamese Association.
“He went out doing what he loved,” Elequin said.
Colleyville freshman Oliver Ha said Signo held a passion for soccer as he played club soccer and was always asking his friends to come play with him. Ha was a personal friend of Signo who lived above him in Martin Hall.
“He was a sacrificial friend. If you asked something from him, he would always be there to help,” Ha said. Elequin and Ha said Signo wanted to express how to live life for Christ as his spiritual life was always reflected in every aspect of his life. They said he was shy and quiet, but once he became friends with someone he would always be there with a loving smile and a helping hand.
“He carried his faith with him,” Houston freshman Taylor Russo said. Russo spent days with Signo practicing for Sing during Line Camp.
Baylor sent out a campus-wide email Monday expressing the need for prayers and thoughts from the students to his family and friends.
“We are so saddened by his passing,” Lori Fogleman, director of media communications, said on behalf of the University. “He was a very bright and well-liked student. Our deepest prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends.”
Funeral services for Signo will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Turrentine, Jackson & Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 N. Central Expressway in Allen.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, also at the funeral home.
