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GREENSBORO - As tears of sorrow streamed down mourners' faces at  N.C. A&T, Samuel Moseley issued a challenge Thursday evening in remembrance of Dennis Hayle.

"Take this tremendous loss and turn it into something positive. Turn it into a celebration of excellence. Turn into something ... that it will be that which you know Dennis would say, ‘Well done,' " Moseley, chairman of the school's political science and criminal justice department, told a packed Harrison Auditorium.

He urged them to continue the legacy of the 22-year-old senior political science and criminal justice major, who was killed early Sunday morning after being shot outside his apartment near campus.

Mourners said Hayle had a life mission to improve the lives of others. That included everything from feeding the homeless with his Omega Psi Phi fraternity brothers to mentoring young children so they could find a better life through education.

"Dennis was a young man with high standards and high morals and a good Christian follower," said his mother, Stephanie Hayle, in a video message played at the memorial.

"He was loved by many people and touched many lives,'' she said. "He gave (those he mentored) hope."

The ceremony honored Hayle with a video slide show entitled "Remembering and cherishing the life of a great man," songs, poems, presentations and condolences from administrators and university factions.

They recalled how Hayle called himself "Mr. Long Island" in keeping with his Hempstead, N.Y., roots.

They spoke of his passion for his fraternity and giving back to the community. Many speakers mentioned Hayle's smile and dimples "you could swim in."

"He was a son, a brother, a student, a leader, a friend. We shall never forget his kind and friendly spirit," student Kia Goosby said.

"Dennis was a great example of what it meant to live your life to the fullest and cherish your friends and family."

As the A&T campus was mourning Hayle's loss, concerned citizens, Greensboro police and other law enforcement agencies went door-to-door near the Campus Courtyard apartments in search of information about his killing.

Police handed out fliers, talked to residents and asked for any information on the shooting, which occurred at 3:35 a.m. Sunday at 805 Homeland Ave.

"(We need to) get over this culture of being silent and start speaking out about what we've seen and not fear criminals," said Ray Trapp, a resident who assisted with the door-to-door effort.

"We need to signal that senseless violence will not be tolerated here in Greensboro."

Police said they have no motive for the shooting and are continuing to follow new leads as they come in.

Visit a N.C. A&T online memorial to Hayle here.

Stephanie Hayle talks about losing her son.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com