On Saturday, Feb. 22, freshman Ashlee D’Avignon died in a car accident in Middlebury.

D’Avignon, originally from Virginia Beach, VA, had recently moved to Middlebury. She was undeclared in the College of Engineering and Mathematics. “She was very kind at heart, she had a certain softness and sweetness,” said Anah Richmond, the Student Services Specialist for the College, who worked with D’Avignon.

“She loved small children, and she worked in some sort of daycare with her mother,” said Richmond. “She wanted to work with children.”

D’Avignon, according to the Burlington Free Press, graduated 13 out of 483 from her high school in Virginia Beach, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She received the Presidential Governor’s Award for outstanding student as well as being a member of her high school softball team.

In addition, according to the Free Press, D’Avignon enjoyed skiing and volleyball. According to Richmond, D’Avignon was the first member of her family to attend college.