Summer Jackson-Healy, a first-year law student at Penn, died on Dec. 13 after suffering a stroke. She was 26.
A memorial service planned by family and friends will be held on Jan. 23 at Penn's Law School.
Family and friends held a benefit in memory of Jackson-Healy at the Oslo nightclub in Austin, Texas -- the law student's hometown -- on Friday. Guests donated money at the door.
The money raised will go to the Equal Justice Foundation at Penn, an organization that works to provide equal legal protection for citizens, in which Jackson-Healy actively participated.
"Some [of the money raised] goes to grants to students. Some goes to pro bono work and legal counsel for the underprivileged," said Kate McMurry, a longtime friend of Jackson-Healy who assisted in planning the benefit.
"She was one of the most genuine human beings I've ever ... had the pleasure of knowing. She was strong and fragile at the same time," McMurry said.
Because Jackson-Healy's stroke occurred at the beginning of the finals period for law students, some students expressed concern that a high level of stress may have been to blame.
However, Law School Associate Dean for Student Affairs Gary Clinton said that "this isn't the type of thing that can be caused by stress."
Clinton, who also holds a degree in divinity, was available to speak to students as news of Jackson-Healy's death spread.
"Maybe a dozen students came to see me," he said. "We worked on [changing] exam schedules."
In addition to her work for the Equal Justice Foundation, Jackson-Healy was an active supporter of the Prisoner's Clinic, which helps inform prisoners of their legal rights. She was also a professional ballerina and spent a year with the Pennsylvania Ballet after high school.
"She was like Superwoman," said first-year law student Jeanine Turell, one of Jackson-Healy's closest friends at Penn.
Turell added that in addition to her course work, Jackson-Healy would help her mother -- who is an attorney -- with research for cases. She was also accomplished in Latin, McMurry said.
"She was just so excited to be at Penn," said Turell. "She was one of the best people ... for law school."
