WEB NEWS RELEASE
Quinichett
COLLEGE PARK, MD (January 2009) - It is with deep regret the College of Education mourns the loss of 21-year-old Channing Quinichett, an Early Childhood Education major within the Department of Human Development, who was due to graduate in May 2009. Described as a wonderfully warm young woman who was also a very conscientious and academically strong student, Channing passed away on Wednesday, January 21, in a car accident on the Capital Beltway.
"Channing was an exceptional student and held great promise as a future teacher," said College of Education Dean Donna Wiseman. "It is a terrible loss to have her life cut short when her future was so bright and she was so excited about what she could accomplish."
Channing, who was expecting, was driving along I-495 between Kenilworth Avenue and Route 1 in Prince George's County when a tire from a delivery truck being towed fell off, bounced over two guardrails to the other side, and struck a tractor-trailer. The impact propelled the tire back over the median where it landed on top of Channing's car, crushing the roof and windshield. Police on the scene reported that she was killed instantly.
Director of the Early Childhood Education program, Christy Tirrell-Corbin, was Channing's instructor for two of her courses last year: Culture and Community Perspectives~The Diverse World of the Child and Effective Components of Early Childhood Classrooms. Responding to the tragedy she stated, "Had Channing been given the chance to complete her degree, I've no doubt she would have been an excellent teacher who had a positive impact on the lives of young children. Her death not only represents a tremendous loss for the Early Childhood Education program students and faculty at the College of Education, but for the teaching profession as a whole. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family."
The funeral service for Channing Quinichett is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, at the Church of the Redeemer, 19425 Woodfield Rd., Gaithersburg, Md., 20879. Viewing begins at 10 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m.
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For more information on the College of Education, visit: www.education.umd.edu
or contact Halima Cherif, Assistant Director for Communications, at: hcherif@umd.edu
