WINDSOR -- The University of Windsor is holding a memorial service on Friday for five members of its student and research community who lost their lives on Ukrainian International Airlines’ Flight PS752.

The university will be holding a memorial service on Friday at 1 p.m. in Alumni Auditorium, located on the second floor of the CAW Student.

Five UWindsor students and researchers lost their lives on the Ukrainian passenger flight that crashed in Iran on Wednesday.

The university says Zahra Naghibi and spouse Mohammad Abaspour Ghadi; Samira Bashiri and spouse Hamidreza Setareh Kokab; and Pedram Jadidi were among 176 people who died.

"We're doing the best we can to get through this difficult period,” says university president Robert Gordon.

Gordon says the school was first notified Wednesday morning that some of its students may have been on board.

“This is a real tragedy,” says Gordon. “Our institution with individuals that are near and dear to everything we do as a university."

According to Gordon, a key priority for the university has been providing counselling services for those grieving around campus.

“Really proud of our faculty and staff and students in terms of the tremendous leadership they're showing through this difficult period."

The memorial service will also be live streamed for those that cannot attend.