Students and alumni at University of Central Florida gathered to honor a former student, killed by terrorists.

The U.S. government on Wednesday confirmed that Steven Sotloff was beheaded by ISIL militants. Vice President Joe Biden assured Americans that the terrorists who killed Sotloff will pay.

"We will follow them to the gates of hell until they are brought to justice," Biden said.

Sotloff is the second American journalist to be killed by Islamic State militants. ISIL militants also beheaded fellow journalist James Foley two weeks ago.

The vigil was co-sponsored by UCF student journalists and the local Syrian American Council.

Although Sotloff only attended UCF from 2002 to 2004, current students said he's an inspiration to them because of his international reporting.

"Especially the kind of reporting he was doing, going overseas to these dangerous areas," said Melissa Catalnatto, an organizer of Wednesday night's vigil. "It was very brave of him. I know a lot of journalists would like to do that but don’t necessarily know if they would be brave enough to do that. So, I think it's very inspiring that he did what he loved to do... He paid the price for it, but he died very bravely, I think."

Instructor Karisa Workman remembered Sotloff in her classes.

“When they gave speeches in my class he tended to ask questions and just wanted to really get to the bottom of things, so to speak," Workman said. "In retrospect, I think he was a journalist back then, if in the classroom.”
 
Sotloff was an active member of the UCF Rugby Club, which members describe as a brotherhood.  
 
“I think that what really touched me is the fact that looking in the older rugby players' eyes and seeing how he really made an impact on them and knowing me being a new member of the rugby team, how close our brotherhood is,” said freshman Blair Cole.

Sotloff family speaks out

Barak Barfi, a spokesman for the Sotloff family, spoke from Miami around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday. Barfi said Steven Sotloff "merely wanted to give a voice to those who had none."

"Steve was no hero," Barfi said. "Like all of us, he was a mere man who tried to find good concealed in a world filled with darkness. And if it did not exist, he tried to create it."

Barfi also spoke about Sotloff's passion for the Miami Dolphins, junk food and how — despite his hectic schedule — he always found time to Skype with his father.

"He indulged in South Park, but he was just as serious about filing a 3 a.m. story," Sotloff said.