Rice mourns loss of H&D’s Essence Derouen

Essence Derouen, a cook II at Baker College since 2013, died March 19. She was 21.

According to local news reports, Houston police said Derouen was an innocent bystander who was shot and killed in her car when an unidentified man began shooting toward a club where Derouen had just left.

Rice Housing and Dining (H&D) posted on Facebook:

“Essence joined H&D as a culinary intern several years ago from (Houston’s) Barbara Jordan High School and her commitment to excellence and learning immediately made her stand out as a star among her peers. She worked in several Rice units with several of our chefs acquiring many culinary skills. She was devoted to her work, never idle, always wanted to learn more, always strove for excellence. For the past two years, Essence has been a part of the Baker kitchen team serving up her unforgettable smile along with her delicious creations. She was an outstanding team member and was dedicated to pursuing her education as a culinarian.”

A GoFundMe account has been established to help the family with funeral expenses: www.gofundme.com/3j2wd34.