St. Thomas sophomore Kyra Winslow and a friend died in a car crash Saturday afternoon on Interstate 94 in Wisconsin, her family said.

Russell Winslow, Kyra’s father, said Monday that the two were on their way to her friend’s house in Eau Claire, Wisc., when the crash occurred at 4 p.m.

“I would just like everybody to remember her for the bright and shining star she was,” Russell Winslow said. “She made everybody better. She was so selfless.”

In a statement Monday, the University of St. Thomas informed the community of the loss.

“We join her loved ones in grieving this tragic loss,” the university said. “We pray for comfort for her family and friends.”

The university wrote that Winslow, 20, of Albertville, Minn., was interested in majoring in strategic communications.

Winslow had produced some content for TommieMedia during the fall 2020 semester in the advertising and public relations department.

Russell Winslow wrote a post on Facebook, asking that others pledge to smile.

“Pledge to find a reason today, and all of our tomorrows, to smile brightly, just like we would do when Kyra Winslow entered the room. Find a way to make each other laugh, and to be care-free, if only a moment, just like she did so gracefully,” he wrote. “Just live TODAY to be a better person than we were yesterday. No matter the day, no matter the month, I pledge to do just that in the honor of Kyra Winslow. Though she’s not with us in a physical sense, she can continue to make us all better people.”

Winslow’s visitation will be on Sunday, Dec. 13 from 2-8 p.m., and her funeral service will be on Monday, Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. Both services will be held at the Peterson Chapel St. Michael-Albertville Funeral Home in St. Michael, Minn.

An on-campus service is also being planned.

St. Thomas also wrote in its statement that Counseling and Psychological Services and the Center for Campus Ministry are available for community members who need support.

Emily Haugen can be reached at haug7231@stthomas.edu.