Ramona Narine, a junior in the School of Public Affairs, died Saturday evening when the Honda she was driving veered into the path of an oncoming car, causing a head-on collision in Silver Spring.
Narine, 21, was a member of the sorority Alpha Epsilon Phi and a former member of the AU Dance Team. Narine also worked at the Office of Campus Life and The Cheesecake Factory.
"Ramona was an active member of the AU community who was much beloved by all the students who knew her, including the members of the Greek community," said Faith Leonard, Dean of Students in the Office of Campus Life. "A student staff member at the reception desk in the Office of Campus Life, she was a warm and welcoming presence for everyone who visited our offices."
Mark Stern, a junior in the School of Communication, remembered running into Narine last week.
"She was the sweetest, most genuine person I know," Stern said. "This is the first loss of the Class of 2007, Ramona was an outstanding member of our class. This loss really hits me, since it was someone I've gone to school with since my freshman year."
According to Stern, a moment of silence was held Sunday at the Greek scholarship banquet for Narine.
A statement from the AU chapter of Alpha Epsilon Phi talked about Narine as a sister and friend.
"She was our sister, a bond that is not easily formed and never broken," according to the statement. "We hope that the memory of her laughter and kindness resonates throughout campus and the Greek community, especially as we come together during this difficult time to mourn such a tremendous
loss."
Nisa Patel, a junior in the School of International Service, and a sorority sister of Narine's, said that she was a very bright, happy person.
"Our schedules didn't allow us to see much of each other this year, but we used every opportunity we could to catch up," Patel said.
Genevieve Frye, a junior in the School of Public Affairs, was on the Dance Team with Narine.
"She was happy, bubbly and dedicated," Frye said. "She was so dedicated - whether it was the Dance Team, interning for Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), or the Office of Campus Life - she was such a driven person."
Josh White, a junior in the SPA, knew Narine since kindergarten. The two, who grew up in Silver Spring, went to the same middle school as well. They ended up attending separate high schools but later transferred to the same one.
"We checked out AU together and ended up going to the same college too," White said. "I just saw her on Thursday, we hung out and watched 'American Beauty' together. She worked so hard but always managed to make time for her friends, her family - even to go home to play with her dog."
Claudia Imel, a junior in SOC, was in the same Politics in the Media class with Narine.
"Her death just reminds me how fleeting so many 'important' things are," she said. "Just last week [Ramona and I] were complaining about our midterm. Now I just wish she would be in class next week; she was so lighthearted and enjoyable to be around."
White said that the one piece of advice from Narine that he carried with him throughout the more than a decade that he'd known her was to always be strong.
"She always said to be self-sufficient and have a good heart," he said. "She believed in morals and the value of honesty, she prided herself on that."
According to White, who spoke with Narine's family, funeral arrangements are pending, but most likely they will be in Silver Spring on Wednesday or Thursday of this week. White also plans to give the eulogy at the service.
According to an article from NBC4.com, the crash happened at a slight curve in the road and road conditions were wet, police said. Authorities are trying to determine if rainy weather was a factor in the crash.
"Any possibilities will be considered," one investigator said. "Including whether there was a medical issue, if it was weather related. But it's too early in the investigation to give a definitive answer."
According to NBC4.com, Narine died at the scene. The individuals in the other vehicle, two parents and their 14-year-old daughter, were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
