Lawrence Today magazine, Spring 2006
Kwabena (Kobby) Buanya, ’08, died on September 8, 2005, at the age of
21, of an accidental drowning at the Buchanan Kiewit Recreation Center.
A sophomore from Accra, Ghana, he was a first-year member of the men’s
soccer team and, along with other Lawrence athletes, had returned to campus
in late August to prepare for the fall varsity sports season. The drowning
occurred during a regularly scheduled, supervised team aquatic practice.
Buanya was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and sang in the College Chorale.
His fellow international students had elected him as an event coordinator for
Lawrence International and as a member of its executive board for 2005-06.
In the spring of 2005, he was chosen by audition to be one of two masters of
ceremonies for the Lawrence International Cabaret. He also had been appointed
to serve on the Judicial Board for the 2005-06 academic year.
A memorial service was held on campus on October 13.