Student collapses in class, dies on 21st birthday | Schools

BOILING SPRINGS - On Tuesday, Gardner-Webb University reported that a student passed out in class and died shortly later -- all during her 21st birthday.

At President Bonner’s request, The Office of Christian Life and Service has scheduled a University-Wide Prayer Service on Friday, January 20 at 12 noon in the Paul Porter Arena of the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center.

While the impetus of our coming together is to pray for the family Ariane Patterson and the many students, faculty and staff who have been personally impacted by her death, we also plan to have a time of silent prayer as a way of recognizing the numerous other prayer concerns within our community of faith and learning.

Faculty who teach at noon are encouraged to have the class attend the prayer service. If not, it is requested that students in 12 o’clock classes be permitted to attend the prayer service if they choose to do so.

 “While attending her GWU “Life and Letters of Paul” class today, (the student) lost consciousness,” the school said in the Facebook note. “Emergency personnel were notified immediately, and coincidentally, one of her classmates was a trained EMT, and he immediately began CPR.”

The school also noted that staff from the GWU School of Nursing arrived shortly after that and assisted the ill student.

 Senior Ariane Noelle Patterson was pronounced dead at Cleveland Regional Medical Center, the school said on their Facebook page.

Cleveland County EMS took over upon arrival and transported Ariane to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead, the school said.

 University Statement: “We are deeply saddened and in shock by this monumental loss. We pray for Ariane’s family and friends during this difficult time, and hope they will somehow find peace in the midst of this tragedy. No words can truly express how we collectively feel as a university during this time.” 

Support services are available at the University through Campus Ministries and the Counseling Center, the school’s Facebook page said.

No details about memorial service arrangements are available at this time. 

Officials are looking into any previous health-related issues that may have attributed to her untimely death, the school said on Facebook.

Ariane was also minoring in Psychology and worked in Campus Ministries as a multi-media coordinator. Her friends say she had an outrageous love for Christ and people and a beautiful smile that was as infectious as her loving spirit.

The university is encouraging those who knew Ariane to post their thoughts and memories by clicking here.