Beloved Young College Student Remembered by Fellow Students After DC Plane Crash

On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while flying over the Potomac River. All of those on board perished, including a young college student, Grace Maxwell.

Grace, 20, was a junior at Cedarville University, a Christian university in Ohio. The Wichita native was majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in biomedical engineering. She would have graduated in 2026. Grace was on the plane, flying back to campus after attending her grandfather’s funeral in her hometown.

Friday After the DC Plane Crash, Grace’s College Community Mourned Her

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On the Friday after the crash, fellow students and the Cedarville community remembered the college junior. They came together to sing, pray, and mourn Grace. During the assembly, Dr. Thomas White, Cedarville’s President, addressed the students: “Even in the midst of our grief, we stop and we say: her name was Grace, and it was Grace for a reason.”

Grace’s friends also commented on who Grace was and their relationship with the young woman. “She would just love on you because she was the most caring person. One of the most caring people I’ve ever met,” said Aspen Schiebout.

Riley Blair shared that Grace loved playing games with them for hours. “She loved it so much and that’s one of my favorite memories of her,” Riley said.

Her Friends Thought the World of Her

Her friends clearly thought the world of her and miss her dearly. “She was a really close and dear friend of ours, and a really bright light in our lives,” Aspen added. “Already, the unit feels so empty without her.”

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In addition to her studies, Grace was a regular on-air personality on the campus radio station and planned to attend the school’s mission trip to England in the spring. She was also a gifted writer and a member of a student organization dedicated to creative writing.

Laurel Brown, another friend of Grace, shared about the last time she heard her on air. Grace talked about her grandfather, her feelings about grief, and how much she missed him. But she knew she would see him again in heaven one day.

Grace Loved Jesus

“Grace loved Jesus so much and she overflowed with positivity and encouragement,” Laurel said. “She was a wonderful, caring friend. And could light up a room with her laugh, it was just infectious.”

We pray for Grace’s family, friends, and the Cedarville campus as they mourn the loss of this beloved young woman.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" - Psalm 34:18

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Julie Provost is a GodUpdates staff writer and editor. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, three boys, and little dog Max. She loves to read, go to the movies, and enjoy time with family and friends.