Abigail Joy (Ava) Garcia |
| Posted 2008-06-29 by Sharon |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ June 4, 2008, p. A10 Abigail Joy “Ava” Garcia was born Sept. 4, 1989 and died in a single-car crash on May 21, 2008. Abigail was a brilliant star. She was reading at four years old. In spite of her mother’s concerns, she skipped third and seventh grades. She was determined and refused to be slowed. She entered high school at 11 years old. During her junior year at Wickenburg High School she went to Thailand as a Rotary Club exchange student - at age 14. She graduated just shy of valedictorian at 16 years old, and went to Reed College in Portland, Ore. There she found her niche - friends, acceptance, and true academic challenge.At Reed she was a Chemistry major, and the recipient of a nearly full-ride scholarship. She received a commendation for academic excellence from Reed College in 2007. She was given a full Chemistry internship at Palo Verde Nuclear Plant this summer. When asked what she would do after graduation, she said that she might work at Palo Verde for awhile and probably get her master’s degree.“But what I think I really want to do at some point is teach,” she said. “I know I’d make more money being a chemist somewhere, and I’ll probably do that for awhile. But my teachers at Wickenburg High School made a real difference in my life, and I’d like to do the same for other kids. Probably in a small town. Maybe even Wickenburg!” Ava is a giver. During finals week, she baked brownies for everyone on her dorm floor. She was taking her own finals in Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Intro to Analysis and Physics, but she found a way to give smiles to her friends. Now, in death, she is still giving. Through being an organ donor, Ava has already saved five lives, and is helping many more. Ava was the light of her mother’s life. The loss for both mother and the world is immeasurable. She was - and is - a beautiful, brilliant soul who had great things to do in this world. Even in death, she found a way to make an enormous, positive impact, saving lives and helping countless people live better. Ava is survived by her mother Tamara Thomas, her father Art Garcia, uncle and aunt Robb and Carol Thomas, uncle and aunt Julian and Ragie Garcia, numerous cousins and untold friends. A memorial was held on Thursday, May 29. Donations are being accepted for a scholarship in Abigail’s name to benefit graduating seniors at Wickenburg High School. Donations may be made at any Bank of America, in the name of Abigail Garcia c/o Tamara Thomas. See Also: Find a Grave |
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