In memory of Scott Hawkins who was killed last month in his residence hall suite and had Asperger’s disorder, ribbons are being sold in the University Union this week in his honor.

The project, titled “Ribbons for Scott,” is a fundraising event that will also raise awareness about Autism, a developmental disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.

All the proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated on behalf of Hawkins to UC Davis’ Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute for Autism research.

Student Activities, a LEAD intern and volunteers will be at tables selling the ribbons and giving out pamphlets about the Institute.

“It is always a terrible tragedy when we lose a student,” said Karlos Santos-Coy, coordinator for leadership education at Student Activities.

The Autism Society says Asperger’s is a milder case of autism with fewer difficulties in speech and communication.

The institute is “striving to understand the causes and develop better treatments and ultimately cures for neurodevelopmental disorders,” according to the Institute’s website.

The fundraiser is a project developed by Ellen Cesaretti, a LEAD intern, who has been working with Autistic children since she was 10 years old.

After finding out that Hawkins had Asperger’s through the news, Cesaretti said she wanted to reach out to the campus and Autism community.

“I wanted to do this fundraiser because I wanted to give closure to students,” Cesaretti said.

The ribbons are sold at $1 each and will be on sale in the University Union every day from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. until Nov.13.

As the coordinator of the fundraiser, Cesaretti did not set a monetary goal for the fundraiser because the main goal is to bring more awareness to Autism, she said.

There are signs and posters throughout the campus to urge students to donate to the cause.

There is no known single cause of Autism, but the Autism Society states on its website that it is believed to be partially caused by brain abnormality in brain structure. Santos-Coy and Cesaretti hope that Sacramento State students will participate in the fundraiser to remember Hawkins.

“Scott Hawkins was a story of success for someone who had autism,” Santos-Coy said.

Miyu Kataoka can be reached at [email protected].