Following the death of Penn State freshman Joseph Dado, Penn State Altoona held a candlelight vigil Thursday night to honor the lives of college students who die from alcohol each year.

"We have never lost a student because of alcohol, and we don't ever want to," Essie Auker, assistant director at Penn State Altoona's health and wellness center, said. "We want to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol and a responsibility to others."

The campus held its Friends For Life event from 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, in the Slep Student Center. Auker said it was originally planned for later in the month, but after Dado's death, she moved the date up.

Maintenance workers found Dado, 18, dead in an exterior stairwell near the Steidle Building on the University Park campus at about 6 p.m. Sept. 21. He was last seen at about 3 a.m. Sept. 20 leaving the Alpha Gamma Delta (Fiji) fraternity house, 319 N. Burrowes Road.

The results of a toxicology report detailing whether Dado consumed alcohol the night of his death is still pending and is expected in the coming weeks, officials say.

Penn State Altoona student Carol Opiela said Thursday's event was important because it made students aware of the dangers of alcohol before an incident on the Altoona campus happens.

"It's definitely good it's bringing the campus together and keeping students aware of the consequences of alcohol," Opiela (senior-biology) said. "I hope it doesn't happen, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever again."

Auker said the event included pizza, refreshments and information about looking out for each other. She said there was also a big banner for students to sign as an oath of commitment for students to look after one another.

There were 1,700 green pennant flags surrounding the lion shrine on the Altoona campus to represent the number of college students who die from alcohol-related incidents each year.

Steve Henk, a student at Penn State Altoona, said Thursday night's event gives everyone a chance to come together to fix a universal problem.

"It's nice to see that people still care and won't let it go," Henk (freshman-petroleum and natural gas engineering) said. "We have to address it for everyone."

Auker said college students should be aware of the danger involved with drinking, such as alcohol poisoning and driving under the influence.

"Passing out is not sleeping it off," Auker said. "Don't let friends leave parties and get into cars when they are drunk."