Edrik was born in Oxnard‚ California‚ on November 4‚ 1988. He grew up in Coquille‚ Oregon‚ on a small farm on the southern Oregon coast. Edrik was serving his first summer as a wildland firefighter for Grayback Forestry to get himself through college. Edrik loved the outdoors and had a great sense of adventure.

Edrik was a junior attending Southern Oregon University‚ where he was double majoring in political science and communications. He had a passion for social activism and was heavily involved on campus with the Latino Student Union and the Multicultural Department‚ as well as his off campus community.

Edrik was a scholar and a revolutionary in every sense of the word. He loved to learn new ideas and took every opportunity to just have a good conversation with anybody he could. He had a unique brand of humor that blended his intellectual wit with his spontaneous quirky personality; you couldn’t help but feel happy when you were around him. His passion for social work was the driving force behind his love for education. He had many plans and goals for his future that included public service.

His professor‚ Dennis Dunleavy‚ PhD‚ remembered: ‘Edrik‚ despite his youth‚ had already made an impact on this world. Everywhere he went‚ Edrik left people feeling good about themselves and the world around us.’

And Dr. Jody Waters‚ Edrik’s professor and advisor at Southern Oregon University‚ said this: ‘Edrik was truly one of the most joyous and special individuals I have ever known. He simply radiated with happiness‚ intelligence‚ and fun…He was truly filled with vision‚ passion for acquiring knowledge and using it‚ and a love for the world and the people in it…Edrik always reminded me that to live in this world is a joy‚ a privilege‚ and a responsibility. He spoke many times of the great respect he had for his parents in immigrating from Mexico and building a life for him and his brothers that meant that he had the opportunity to gain an education and to speak‚ question‚ challenge‚ and participate in the world around him…It is still difficult to believe that such a bright light could be extinguished.’

Edrik had a wide variety of hobbies and interests. He loved camping with family‚ hiking with friends‚ and working with his beehives. He was a talented writer and could often be found writing his thoughts in his journal. There isn’t a day that goes by in which his smile and warmth are not missed! In his 19 years of life he touched many‚ and we are better individuals for having had him in our lives.