Lovisa Arnesson-Cronhamre was a driven Penn State doctoral student with dreams of motherhood until she was killed by a speeding driver in State College.
A year after her death, she’s being remembered by her loved ones in ways that aim to keep her legacy alive. Notably, a graduate scholarship established in her name will help another Penn State student make contributions to the field of physics, while a fundraising hike will raise money for the international charity Save the Children.
The establishment of a scholarship in her name will allow her memory to “live on for as long as possible,” her father Peter Arnesson Gyld said in a written statement shared by the university.
“Lovisa was incredibly helpful and always stepped up when someone needed assistance,” he said. “A scholarship that can be awarded in her name is yet another way for her to continue helping others, just as she did when she was with us. Her kind heart can continue to make a difference.”
Helping others follow their dreams at Penn State
Arnesson-Cronhamre, 25, was a graduate student in architectural engineering who planned to transfer to physics to pursue her passion.
Established by her parents and fiance, the Be More Lovisa Graduate Student Scholarship in Physics in the Eberly College of Science will provide funding for grad students in physics. There will be a preference for students studying particle astrophysics.
Members of her family from Sweden and her fiance Matthew Hollingham’s family from the United Kingdom announced the establishment of the memorial scholarship during a ceremony Thursday in State College.
“Losing Lovisa has been devastating but we, as a family, strongly wish to contribute to someone else’s love of physics and to honor Lovisa in a way that will keep her memory alive,” her mother Maja Cronhamre said in a statement. “We have chosen to do this at Penn State, where her future dreams were being made possible. For us as a family, it’s vital to reflect Lovisa and her amazing qualities in a way that can contribute to her memory and so that other graduate students may follow their own dream.”
The scholarship will be awarded to a grad student in the Eberly College of Science studying physics who shows a passion for the subject and a conscientious, determined, considered and forward-thinking approach, the university said. The candidate must also be supportive to others while making a significant contribution either individually or within a team.
“Her heart was in physics,” Penn State physics professor Doug Cowen said in a statement. “There was no hurdle high enough to deter Lovisa from pursuing her goal of a Ph.D. in experimental neutrino physics. She will be remembered as an exceptionally self-motivated, gifted, warm, enthusiastic young woman who would have become an outstanding experimental neutrino physicist.”
Remembered as modest and humble, nominations for the scholarship in Lovisa’s honor will be accepted from those who work alongside students who are worthy of consideration but may not apply themselves.
The first two recipients of the scholarship were Šárka Blahnik and Emma Steinebronn.
“It’s not really that this is the best physics student that’s achieved all these things and is great on paper. We aimed it more at a physics student who is the glue that holds people together, is strong, is determined, is kind,” Hollingham, who is a Penn State grad student in architectural engineering, told the Centre Daily Times. “It’s less so ‘This is the most outstanding physicist.’ This is the kindest person. In a way, it’s a kindness award.”
‘Truly lived her life well’
Arnesson-Cronhamre was remembered by Hollingham as happy, sweet and kind on the surface. But behind her exterior, he said she was a “very determined” and “amazingly capable” woman.
As someone who lived with Type 1 diabetes, she was also a dedicated powerlifter. Hollingham said she was the third strongest for her weight class in Scotland. Yet if you only knew her in passing, you likely wouldn’t been any the wiser.
“If you asked her if she went to the gym, she’d be like, ‘Sometimes,’ ” Hollingham said with a laugh.
Hollingham, a 24-year-old who was born and raised in London, was introduced to the Swedish-born Arnesson-Cronhamre through a friend at a party while they studied at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
After learning she was interested in powerlifting, Hollingham sent her a message the day after the party and asked if she wanted to go to the gym. Their love blossomed from there.
After graduating, the two came to Penn State to pursue doctoral degrees. Just weeks later, she was hit by a fellow student as she jogged along the 200 block of East College Avenue. Friday marked one year since her death.
“Lovisa truly lived her life well and we will always be incredibly proud of her, not only for her impressive accomplishments but for being an amazingly kind and thoughtful person,” her mother said. “The world needs more Lovisas.”
A hike with a cause
Arnesson-Cronhamre always wanted to have children. To honor that part of her legacy, Hollingham plans to raise money for Save the Children through a charity hike of Mount Nittany.
Beginning Saturday morning, Hollingham plans to climb Mount Nittany nearly 50 times continuously. He will only count the distance he ascends because, as he puts it, “When you walk up Everest, you don’t go up and down, up and down, up and down. You go up.”
As someone who walked about 450 miles from Glasgow to London and across the entirety of Hadrian’s Wall continuously, Hollingham did not hesitate when he said he expects his upcoming trek to be his most difficult.
He said supporters are welcome during the entirety of his hike. Donations to support Hollingham’s hike can be made online at justgiving.com/page/mtneverest.
“When someone you love dies, you carry that. It’s tough, but you also have to carry them as well and, in a way, fill in their gaps,” Hollingham said. “Lovisa can’t be here, but I can do my best to live for her.”
Hollingham has been in therapy weekly since his fiance’s death, which he said has helped him gain better control of his emotions. He said he cried two or three times per day in the first few months.
Tears have come less frequently as time has marched forward, but when he reaches the peak of Mount Nittany for the final time on Sunday, Hollingham expects a rush of emotions.
For her sudden death. For the children they were never able to have. For Lovisa.
“I’m going to cry a lot,” Hollingham said. “There’s no way around that.”
