Former UNT Student Killed in Paris Attacks

"He was wonderful and happy," a university spokesperson said of Francois Xavier Prevost.

The University of North Texas in Denton is mourning the loss of a former exchange student who was among 129 killed Friday when terrorists launched a series of coordinated attacks in Paris.

Francois Xavier Prevost, 29, of France, attended UNT in 2007, according to the university, which honored his memory during a statewide moment of silence Monday afternoon.

"He was wonderful and happy," said UNT-International spokesperson Mary Beth Butler, who remembers Prevost from his time at the university. "He was tall and very slim. He really enjoyed everything Denton and UNT had to offer. He and his friends visited lots of places and went to the rodeo here in town at the beginning of the semester. It was wonderful to see him enjoying his experience and learning about Texas."

Prevost was one of 89 gunned down at the Bataclan concert hall, where a California-based rock band was performing, his alma mater in France wrote on Facebook.

He also interned in the summer of 2009 for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, according to a press release issued Monday by the Pennsylvania soccer team. At the time of his internship, Prevost was working toward a degree in international commerce and negotiations, the team said.

"He worked with Hounds director Jason Kutney on designing layouts for a soccer-specific stadium for the team. Prevost initiated contact with Seating Solutions, the company that helped to design what ended up becoming Highmark Stadium," team officials wrote in the press release. "We offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to Prevost’s family and friends, and to everyone affected by the attacks."

A number of UNT students gathered Monday at the university's "Peace Pole" to remember Prevost and the other victims of Friday's attacks. The "Peace Pole," which has been in place for just a few months, is inscribed with the phrase "May peace prevail on Earth," written in the seven languages spoken by the majority of UNT students.

Current exchange student Greg Masson, of Toulouse, France, was among those in attendance. 

"It's a lot of emotions," said Masson, who is studying English as a second language at UNT.

Masson said his father a military member stationed in northern France. He said he is concerned his father may be deployed as France launches airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria.

"I don't know if one day he will go to Syria. I don't know yet, but I'm afraid," he said.

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