Honoring A Legacy: The Laura Dye Tie Challenge at American Preparatory Academy
WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH – The American Preparatory Academy-West Valley 1 campus in West Valley City came together to honor the memory of Laura Dye, a dedicated elementary school counselor who profoundly impacted the lives of her students and colleagues.
Laura passed away in May 2020 after a courageous battle with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer. In her memory, her husband, Jeremy Dye, launched “The Laura Dye Tie Challenge” to support the students at the school she loved.
At American Prep, students are required to wear uniforms, which include wearing a tie. Laura believed in the value of learning lifelong skills and that tying a tie properly is a skill that benefits both young men and young women as they advance throughout their school careers and move into the workplace. In her memory, Jeremy helped establish tie-tying workshops at which students learn how to tie a tie properly and then pass it off to a member of the administration. Once they pass it off, they earn a brand new tie in school-approved colors. Jeremy and his family and friends supplied the ties to the students.
Laura’s commitment to her students was unparalleled. She worked at the American Preparatory Academy-West Valley 1 campus for nearly four years and was celebrated for her dedication, receiving the prestigious “Builder of the Year” award in 2019. Laura’s nurturing spirit and tireless efforts made the school and the community a better place, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire.
Laura’s passion for education was evident from her early years. She earned her Master’s degree in School Counseling in 2010, driven by a lifelong love of children and a desire to help them achieve their goals. Known for her strength and compassion, Laura offered support and guidance to everyone she met, always striving to empower her students and her own children to learn and grow.
Despite her own health challenges, Laura remained a source of hope and resilience. She struggled with chronic Ulcerative Colitis since childhood and was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in 2018. Just a year later, she faced a Stage IV cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis. Laura and her family sought care and fought the disease for seven months, navigating countless treatments at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and enduring the added challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to honoring Laura’s legacy through the school she loved, Jeremy also dedicates time to volunteering for the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. He raises awareness about the disease in an effort to improve outcomes for patients and caregivers.
“The Laura Dye Tie Challenge” aims to carry on Laura’s legacy of kindness, education, and community support. It will help students develop lifelong skills, honor Laura’s memory, and promote cholangiocarcinoma awareness.
“My goal is to carry on her legacy and help the students at the school learn life-long skills that will benefit them throughout the rest of their lives, and also create a way to keep her memory alive and help people remember her and how she loved and cared for everyone she met,” Jeremy said and encourages everyone to “Love Like Laura.”
Students were presented with their ties on May 30, 2024.
About cholangiocarcinoma:
Cholangiocarcinoma, pronounced (koh-LAN-jee-oh-KAR-sih-NOH-muh), is a highly lethal and rare bile duct cancer of the liver with a poor prognosis. With approximately 10,000 cases a year being diagnosed in the United States, cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary liver cancer in the world. It is often diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment is only minimally effective, emphasizing the imminent need for novel therapies.
About the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation:
Founded in 2006, the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation is a global 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to find a cure and improve the quality of life for patients with cholangiocarcinoma. The Foundation is also part of a global alliance and partners with institutions in the United Kingdom, Thailand, Italy, Denmark, Japan, and other countries. For more information, please visit our website at cholangiocarcinoma.org. You may also contact CCF Director of Communications Karen Templeton at karen.templeton@cholangiocarcinoma.org.