FilAm student dies in freak accident

WACO (Texas) — An 18-year-old freshman Filipino American student was practicing a ‘”traditional Filipino dance” when he landed on his head Saturday evening, March 2, and died in a hospital the following day, according to Lori W. Fogleman, director of media communications of Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Quoting the report of the university police chief, Fogleman said the accident happened at about 8:30 p.m. inside the university’s Marrs McLean gym. Students called 911, and an ambulance transported Kevin to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco.  She said students and the university chaplain were at the hospital when Kevin passed away early Sunday morning.

In an email, Fogleman told this reporter she could not tell the “exact nature” of the Filipino dance that prompted Kevin Signo to do a back flip but accidentally landed on his head during a break from the rehearsal.

Kevin was a pre-med biology major from Frisco, Texas and residing at Martin Hall dormitory. He was an active member of the university’s Filipino Student Association and several other student organizations, to include Poppers, Lockers, Breakers, and Asians for Christ.

“It is heartbreaking, and we are so saddened by the tragic loss of one of our students,” said Fogleman.  Kevin was a very bright, well-liked and involved student, and he had many friends and classmates who will miss him so much.”

She added that Baylor is providing resources for students through the university’s Spiritual Life office and counseling center as students work through their grief over the loss of their friend.  “We, as a campus community, continue to keep Kevin’s family and many friends in our deepest prayers during this very difficult time,” she said

It was reported that Justice of the Peace W. H. “Pete” Peterson was conducting an inquest into Signo’s fall to determine the cause of the fatal spinal injury.

A native of Carol Stream, Illinois, Kevin had dreamed to be a doctor.  He would have turned 19 later this March.  His parents, Henry and Jackie Signo, told NBC 5 Dallas-Forth Worth that their son was an organ donor.

“He prepared legal documents to donate his eyes, bones and other organs of his body. He knew what were useful and important not knowing that something tragic would happen to him,” said Kevin’s grieving father.  His mother Jackie added that donation for Kevin would go to an endowment to support other medical students in Baylor.

Funeral services for Kevin will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, March 9, in Allen (Texas), which was expected to be attended at least two busloads of classmates from Waco.

An endowed scholarship fund has been set up at Baylor in Kevin’s memory. Gifts may be mailed to Baylor University, In Memory of Kevin Signo, One Bear Place #97050, Waco TX 76798.