Gifts to the community from Carson…

When one speaks about Carson Hughes and the loss of life, artistic expression, and the unspeakable number of gifts he provided everyone he encountered – one must also look at the many gifts he continues to provide daily.

To speak of Carson is to speak of his family. He was his family, all those great traits we speak of, Carson learned at home. The Hughes family are now acting for Carson.

The entire Hughes Family is sharing their grief openly with the community. This openness is one not usually seen. It is also a unity that cannot be easily expressed. The emptiness and void of pain is being filled with many unifying actions, activities, and growth projects.

The works Carson had in progress are being completed by his family. His mom, Mandy, found 3000 “new” photographs, completely edited – in an unnamed file on Carson’s computer.

Dad Jason shared “Mandy and I have committed to an every Sunday date with Kelsey” (Kelsey Borgman, Osgood – Carson’s longtime girlfriend/best friend) “to pick her up and attend One Purpose Church.” One Purpose Church was where she (Borgman) and Carson were building part of their own future.

The Hughes’ met with officials at the Versailles State Park recently. There they discussed the planned garden with a memorial bench for viewing at Carson’s beloved VSP Lake.

The Hughes’ are also moving forward with the “Reels at VSP” videos Carson was in the process of making. They will be shown in the Nature Center. The videos will highlight each animal he sat with for many hours to develop a relationship, so he could share them with everyone.

The Carson Hughes memorial website is up and will offer Carson Hughes Photography prints. Access the site at:

www.carsonhughesphotography.com. The donations made, go to the Carson Hughes Memorial Fund at Napoleon State Bank.

The webpage will be monitored closely and has been designed by the Hughes’ family with one thought – how would Carson do it? – this is their homage and focus in all projects bearing his likeness and/or memory.

Prints will be offered and rotated to maintain fresh stock and interest. There will be holiday prints offered that will be up briefly and taken down. You will definitely want to be a regular visitor to this site. Like and follow it to stay current on all new postings.

Osgood business Iron Timbers is creating a metal impression, in Carson’s memory, with a baseball and his #26. This will be displayed at the JCD baseball complex entrance. This was unveiled and dedicated on Senior Night (Wednesday, May 15) at JCD.

Coach David Bradshaw (35-year JCD Baseball Coach that was anticipating this senior year with Carson) is a daily caller on the Hughes’ family. Bradshaw coached Jason, Corey (Carson’s brother), and Carson. Friends of Carson continue their support and vigil with the Hughes family.

When Mandy notified the Photography Camp of the tragedy ( where Carson was eagerly anticipating speaking ) they requested she come discuss some of the tips she knew from Carson. She is asked to share his resources, work ethic, networking methods, and all information Carson so freely shared with all he met. Mandy is also invited to attend classes free so she can continue editing and producing prints Carson was processing, and effectively manage the website.

May 28 at 6 p.m. will be Senior Honors night at Jac-Cen-Del. The Hughes’ will announce the very first Carson Hughes Memorial Scholarship recipient.

Graduation will be May 31. JCD has acquired a couple baby pictures for all to see if they can match the baby’s face with the graduate – of course they requested to display Carson with the rest of his classmates.

JCD is displaying a 3’x4’ framed ‘Eagle Flying’ print of Carson’s. This framed print will be permanently displayed in the foyer.

Carson has one of his prints in the Governor’s office in Indianapolis. Susan Crouch, Lieutenant Governor, sent flowers to Carson’s Celebration of Life. One of her assistants saw Ryan Lauber, Versailles, in Indianapolis. Noting the South Ripley T-shirt, the Lieutenant Governor’s Assistant approached Lauber and said, “I have one of Carson’s pictures.” The assistant then offered any help the family might need.

Another goal of Carson’s was to have a booth at Art on Main, Madison. When he and Mandy had visited there previously, he was informed the age limit to have a booth was 18 years old (Carson was 17). Mandy recalled Carson asking, “Even with my Mom standing right here saying I can do it!?” One can imagine Carson’s incredulity and innocence as he asked ‘why.’

One will find pictures of Carson’s hanging in local businesses. Especially at the VSP Welcome Center/Office, the Nature Center, and the Gate House – where Carson spent time when he would visit VSP. Carson never lost perspective about nurturing people too.

One of his proud moments is when Carson would compete and be validated for his art and creative eye. The most recent achievement was when Carson’s Art Teacher sent a print in of the ‘Otter Eating Breakfast’ to the 9th District Congressional Art Competition. It won and will henceforth be hanging in the ‘Cannon Tunnel’ in Washington D.C.

In June, the 9th Congressional District will fly the Hughes family to Washington D.C. for the presentation. The presentation will occur at the Capital Building. The Cannon Tunnel connects the Cannon House to the Capital Building.

There are #Carson Support Bracelets. Bracelets can be obtained by private messaging Mandy or Jason Hughes on FB (the donation goes to the Carson Hughes Memorial Fund).

One thing Jason asked, “Please don’t let these lie in a drawer. Use them to remind yourself to be present and cherish every moment of every day. You never know when that last hug will be, when the last ‘I Love You’ will be said. You never know, when the last picture will be taken.”

Editor’s Note: Carson Hughes lost his life on this earth in a drowning accident at the Versailles State Park where he spent countless hours.