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Fanshawe will remember Adam Nigh, a level one apprenticeship student of the automotive service technician program, who passed away during a water related incident at Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills Conservation Area on Nov. 13.

Fanshawe mourns the loss of Adam Nigh, a level one apprenticeship student of the automotive service technician program, according to a Fanshawe press release.

According to the press release, Nigh passed away as the result of an accident that occurred on Nov. 13 at the Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills Conservation Area.

According to a press release from the London Police Services, an autopsy of the 19-year-old from Simcoe, Ontario was performed, but no official word on the exact cause of death has been made, however, no foul play is suspected.

In honour of Nigh, Fanshawe will lower the flag to half-mast at the London campus on Nov. 18.

David Vollmer, a Fanshawe professor from the School of Transportation Technology and Apprenticeship who taught Nigh, said he was sick to his stomach when he first heard the news.

“I was loss for words, I’m still sad about it. I just think he’s too young, he didn’t get a chance to really start living yet and it’s just a loss of a great student and a good kid,” Vollmer said. “This guy, he wanted to learn, it seemed like he loved what he was doing.”

Vollmer, who had nothing but praise for Nigh, said he was an amazing student with top marks and was going to even have him participate in the program’s annual skills competition.

According to Vollmer, though he only taught Nigh for eight weeks, he was an approachable, sociable and keen student, one that he believed everyone got along with.

“If I could have a whole classroom full of him, I would have been a happy guy,” Vollmer said. “He sat in class right at the front, right there, all the time, [and] asked great questions. [He was a] very intelligent kid, well-spoken [and] well mannered.”

Vollmer said in conversation with Nigh, he understood the young man was getting a new job and was going to be working for another auto shop, run by students Vollmer had previously taught.

“He was really excited to go to work for this shop because he was going to get exposure to more high tech vehicles and a really good mentor there,” Vollmer said.

Vollmer also knew Nigh was into stock car racing and was as interested in building cars as he was racing them.

“That’s all you can ever ask for is a student to have a little bit of passion about what he’s doing, and he definitely had it,” Vollmer said.

Though Vollmer said he doesn’t know too many details of what exactly caused Nigh’s passing, he said the fact that he has a son of the same age “really puts things into perspective”.

“It’s too bad that one little decision like that can do something [this bad],” Vollmer said. “I think he’ll be sadly missed, I can tell you that.”

Vollmer likes the idea that Fanshawe will lower the flag on Friday for Nigh.

“I think that’s a great honour. I think Fanshawe steps up to the plate like they should, and they care. We care about the community, we care about our students. We get so attached to our students, I feel like sometimes they’re like my kids, I spend so much time with these guys,” Vollmer said. “Just a sad thing to have to happen to such a young person, I think he’s had so much going for him and so much to look forward to, very sad.”