April 16, 1998

Accident takes life of ASU graduate student

Darin Glass, Editor-in-Chief

An Appalachian State University graduate student was killed last Wednesday in a car accident while driving on U.S. Highway 221 toward Marion.

Ashley Michelle Brackett of Lenoir, N.C. was driving south on 221 Wednesday afternoon as her car hydroplaned on the slippery road, crossed the center line and crashed into a tractor trailer truck going the opposite direction  According to police reports and the McDowell News, Brackett was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m.

Ashley Brackett was a graduate student in the English department at ASU. She received her undergraduate degree from ASU in English last May. She accomplished this task in three years while on a four-year scholarship.

Friends of Ashley Brackett in the English department will miss her “generous heart” and “quick wit.”

Assistant Professor of English Lynn Doyle taught Brackett for three years and knew of her wonderful personality.  “She brought a community spirit with her everytime she walked into a room. She made every class a delight and she was one of my best students,” said Doyle of Ashley.

Brackett transferred from Gaston College in Dallas, N.C. to ASU, after the 1994 fall semester, where she had received a 4.0 GPA and made chancellor’s list. Very intelligent and driven, Brackett not only was an excellent student, but she enjoyed helping others.

Graduate Teaching Assistant Candace Brennan and friend of Ashley Brackett said, “She helped others be strong and inspired people. She made friends easily and made time to talk with people.”

“She had a list of goals: finish school in three years, make Dean’s List and score 160 on the LSAT. We were always amazed,” said Brennan.

She worked with the YWCA as a camp counselor in Greenville, S.C. in the summer of 1994 and worked as a resident assistant for two years in Eggers residence hall at ASU. All the graduate students that knew Ashley said that all of her valuable experiences helped mold Ashley into the great personality that everyone knew.

Ashley was accepted into law school at Tulane University recently. She wanted to work in juvenile court.

Brackett was on her way to Greer, S.C. to visit her parents when the accident occured. Her father, Mike Brackett, said, “The best things are to remember the happy memories.”

Both parents said they have received many cards from friends who knew her and many that they did not know.

“She has touched a lot of people’s lives through her involvement,” said Mike Brackett.

A memorial service will be held for Ashley Brackett on Friday April 17, in the Multicultural Center room in the student union. All persons who knew her are encouraged to attend.

On April 23, the poetry reading in Tradewinds coffee house will be dedicated to Ashley. Another dedication in the works will be several books in the library. Brackett had ordered books for her coursework that had not arrived yet and those books will hopefully have her name in them, said Brennan.

Her parents are also trying to set up a scholarship fund in her name to keep her generous spirit alive.

Ashley Brackett would have been 22-years-old on April 29. She will be missed by family, friends, ASU and all that knew her.
 

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