Mariel Christie ’10, who graduated in May, was found dead July 11 on campus. Christie was a graduate of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, where she received her B.S. in biological sciences. No cause of death has been released.

An animal lover, Christie was active on campus as a student assistant in the Comstock Entomology Library, as well as a member of the Ecology House and a peer mentor in the Cornell Office of Minority Educational Affairs. Earlier this year, Christie was the recipient of the 2010 Betsy Bush Student Assistant Award, given to outstanding student workers in the University library system. She also expressed her love of horses through activities through her job at the University’s Oxley Equestrian Center.

Christie graduated from Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, NY, as a top student, and her devotion to academics was continually present in her work. Debo Olaosebikan grad, who tutored Christie in the physical sciences and shared several mutual friends, noted Christie’s virtues as a student and friend. “From the short while I knew her, she was kind of unique in that she didn’t necessarily indulge in talking about herself. She was always happy to talk about the world and people around her,” Olaosebikan said.  Other friends elaborated on Christie's selfless heart. Sandy Saint Cyr ’10 became close with Christie when the two were enrolled in a particularly difficult physics class. Saint Cyr noted that Christie was tenacious in learning the material, even if she had to teach it to herself. The two would often share long study hours in the library.

Saint Cyr also said that Christie had a quirky love for tea, and she would often bring tea samples to friends and family. “She would come to see you and bring you food even if she hadn’t seen you in a long time,” Saint Cyr said. “She loved learning about other people’s lives." Funeral services were held on July 17 in Colonie, NY.