Caitlin Hammaren, 19, of Westtown, N.Y., was a sophomore majoring in international studies and French, according to officials at her hometown school district.

"She was just one of the most outstanding young individuals that I've had the privilege of working with in my 31 years as an educator," said John P. Latini, principal of Minisink Valley High School. "Caitlin was a leader among our students."

She was a member of the mixed chorus and chamber choir, and she played violin in the all-county orchestra.

In addition, Hammaren was a member of the National Honor Society and a "role model for all young people," said Martha Murray, Minisink Valley Central School District superintendent.

"She stood at the brink of the kind of greatness we all want for our young people. She wanted to go into international politics, to influence in a positive way some of the insanity we see in today's world."

Hammaren's high school friend Laura Thelander told the Times Herald-Record in New York: "There's no one who's perfect, but she was pretty close to perfect. I can't imagine her being gone."

-- The Associated Press