2008 Woodie Awards
Guilford Grieves Loss of Caitlin Lee
Rising Junior Caitlin Lee flourished on Guilford's campus before her unexpected death on July 27.
Amanda Pressley
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: News
On Sunday, July 27, rising junior Caitlin Christine Lee, 20, died from injuries sustained in an automotive accident in Henry County, Ky.
Lee, a Nashville native, was returning home from King's Island amusement park in Ohio with three friends at the time of the accident. Her long-time boyfriend Ryan Keith Williams, 19, and fellow couple Jackson Scott Harris, 19, and Caitlin R. Currey, 18, were also killed in the crash.
A 2006 graduate of Nashville's East Literature Magnet, Lee was very dedicated to her alma mater and hometown where she was an active member of First Unitarian Universalist Church and worked at the local YMCA. However, Guilford became her second home.
Lee came to Guilford planning to major in computing and technology but found her passion to be elsewhere. She soon declared as a double major in English and elementary education in hopes of teaching fourth-grade.
An active member of the Guilford community, Lee worked on campus as a Phonathon caller and in Hege Library, volunteered at Pathways and contributed to several student organizations including Community AIDS Awareness Project (CAAP). She left an imprint on every organization and department she was a part of.
"(The thing that stood out most about her was) her personality," said Ellie Puckett, assistant director of annual giving and Phonathon supervisor, who Lee worked for during her first year. "(She was) so friendly and open and non-judgmental. She was pleasant and always had a positive attitude."
"She was very good at her job," said Puckett. "She made good connections with alumni and they loved to talk to her."
"She genuinely cared about everyone," said Hege Library Circulation Manager Susan McClanahan, who hired Lee during her sophomore year. "She worked well with all her peers because she was interested in them and had such a co-operative spirit."
Lee was particularly interested in Guilford's many volunteer opportunities through clubs and Career and Community Learning's committed volunteer sites.
Lee, a Nashville native, was returning home from King's Island amusement park in Ohio with three friends at the time of the accident. Her long-time boyfriend Ryan Keith Williams, 19, and fellow couple Jackson Scott Harris, 19, and Caitlin R. Currey, 18, were also killed in the crash.
A 2006 graduate of Nashville's East Literature Magnet, Lee was very dedicated to her alma mater and hometown where she was an active member of First Unitarian Universalist Church and worked at the local YMCA. However, Guilford became her second home.
Lee came to Guilford planning to major in computing and technology but found her passion to be elsewhere. She soon declared as a double major in English and elementary education in hopes of teaching fourth-grade.
An active member of the Guilford community, Lee worked on campus as a Phonathon caller and in Hege Library, volunteered at Pathways and contributed to several student organizations including Community AIDS Awareness Project (CAAP). She left an imprint on every organization and department she was a part of.
"(The thing that stood out most about her was) her personality," said Ellie Puckett, assistant director of annual giving and Phonathon supervisor, who Lee worked for during her first year. "(She was) so friendly and open and non-judgmental. She was pleasant and always had a positive attitude."
"She was very good at her job," said Puckett. "She made good connections with alumni and they loved to talk to her."
"She genuinely cared about everyone," said Hege Library Circulation Manager Susan McClanahan, who hired Lee during her sophomore year. "She worked well with all her peers because she was interested in them and had such a co-operative spirit."
Lee was particularly interested in Guilford's many volunteer opportunities through clubs and Career and Community Learning's committed volunteer sites.
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