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Family and community members are mourning the loss of Chassey Ako, 19, a native of Fallon and 2004 graduate of Churchill County High School, who died Saturday at a sorority event at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas.
"We just all miss her," said John Riley, principal at Churchill County High School. "People who miss her have been shocked around here."
Ako had a seizure and collapsed about 3:30 p.m. Saturday in on the UNLV campus, said Rebecca Mills, vice president of student life at UNLV. Ako was participating in recruitment for Greek sororities, where nearly 500 young women were on campus in an effort to be chosen by a sorority.
EMTs arrived at the scene within three or four minutes to administer care and transported her to Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, where she later died, Mills said.
Ako, a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, was waiting for the next group of recruits to come in when she fell ill, she said. The Greek recruitment events are alcohol-free, Mills said.
"We just all miss her," said John Riley, principal at Churchill County High School. "People who miss her have been shocked around here."
Ako had a seizure and collapsed about 3:30 p.m. Saturday in on the UNLV campus, said Rebecca Mills, vice president of student life at UNLV. Ako was participating in recruitment for Greek sororities, where nearly 500 young women were on campus in an effort to be chosen by a sorority.
EMTs arrived at the scene within three or four minutes to administer care and transported her to Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, where she later died, Mills said.
Ako, a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, was waiting for the next group of recruits to come in when she fell ill, she said. The Greek recruitment events are alcohol-free, Mills said.
The cause of Ako's death is pending, an employee of the Clark County coroner's office said Tuesday afternoon.
A memorial held Monday night on campus attracted an estimated 400 people, including Ako's family members, Mills said.
"We've spent a lot of time reaching out to the individuals who were most seriously impacted by her death," she said. "We have an excellent student and psychological services department.
The incident comes as another blow the to the Ako family, who tragically lost another young woman earlier this summer.
Shelby Ako, 21, Chassey's sister, was slain on June 10 in her Las Vegas apartment. The suspect was shot and killed June 24 by a police officer after he killed another woman and nearly shot the officer.
Funeral services for Chassey Ako are planned for Saturday. For more information, see the obituary on page A3.
A memorial held Monday night on campus attracted an estimated 400 people, including Ako's family members, Mills said.
"We've spent a lot of time reaching out to the individuals who were most seriously impacted by her death," she said. "We have an excellent student and psychological services department.
The incident comes as another blow the to the Ako family, who tragically lost another young woman earlier this summer.
Shelby Ako, 21, Chassey's sister, was slain on June 10 in her Las Vegas apartment. The suspect was shot and killed June 24 by a police officer after he killed another woman and nearly shot the officer.
Funeral services for Chassey Ako are planned for Saturday. For more information, see the obituary on page A3.
Churchill County High School staff members who knew and worked with Ako remembered a high achiever and motivated student who was well-liked by her peers.
"She was just a great kid," Principal John Riley said. "If every student was like her, the students would be running the school."
Ako worked as an office aide while in high school and interacted well with her co-workers, he said. She was wholly committed during her term as president of student government.
"For me, having her in here was like having another adult working at the school," he said.
Riley said word spread of Ako's death Monday through the school. An unspecified memorial event is planned at the high school tomorrow.
Linda Hammond, a business teacher and advisor for Future Business Leaders of America at the high school, said Chassey was energetic and committed during her three years with FBLA.
"She was just a great kid," Principal John Riley said. "If every student was like her, the students would be running the school."
Ako worked as an office aide while in high school and interacted well with her co-workers, he said. She was wholly committed during her term as president of student government.
"For me, having her in here was like having another adult working at the school," he said.
Riley said word spread of Ako's death Monday through the school. An unspecified memorial event is planned at the high school tomorrow.
Linda Hammond, a business teacher and advisor for Future Business Leaders of America at the high school, said Chassey was energetic and committed during her three years with FBLA.
"Anything she pursued, she gave 100 percent," Hammond said. "She was a real neat kid, a great sense of humor."
She served as state officer for FBLA and received a Who's Who in FBLA award.
Hammond recalled one humorous memory when Chassey came to school during homecoming week dressed up as a mummy. She had a hard time sitting down, so instead laid on her stomach a chair with wheels, to which some of her classmates decided to have a little fun.
"They gave her a 360 and spun her around she got unraveled," Hammond said. "Her high heels went flying. We had to go find some more toilet paper, of course, and patch her up."
Members of the Ako family could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Josh Johnson can be contacted at jjohnson@lahontanvalleynews.com
She served as state officer for FBLA and received a Who's Who in FBLA award.
Hammond recalled one humorous memory when Chassey came to school during homecoming week dressed up as a mummy. She had a hard time sitting down, so instead laid on her stomach a chair with wheels, to which some of her classmates decided to have a little fun.
"They gave her a 360 and spun her around she got unraveled," Hammond said. "Her high heels went flying. We had to go find some more toilet paper, of course, and patch her up."
Members of the Ako family could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Josh Johnson can be contacted at jjohnson@lahontanvalleynews.com
