For immediate release
Sept. 3, 2003

The Abilene Christian University family is mourning the loss of a student who died Wednesday at Hendrick Hospital in Abilene of a respiratory illness.

Tiffany Hamilton, a 22-year-old senior interior design major from Augusta, Ga., died Wednesday of a severe form of pneumonia.

"We are so saddened by the death of one of our students, a young woman with so much potential and vitality," said Dr. Royce Money, ACU president. "We ask that you keep ACU and Tiffany's family in your thoughts and prayers as we cope with her death."

Hamilton's family, including her parents and 12 brothers and sisters, traveled to Abilene to be with Tiffany, who has been in the intensive care unit at Hendrick for the past 10 days.

Derrick Hamilton, one of Tiffany's brothers, was a sophomore human development and family studies major at ACU until last spring when he was deployed with the U.S. Army to Iraq. Derrick was called back to the United States when Tiffany was hospitalized, and he arrived in town earlier this week. Another brother, Jarrad Hamilton, is currently a sophomore art major at ACU. Tiffany was also in the Army Reserves.

The Living Room of the McGlothlin Campus Center at ACU has been set aside as a special place of mourning and prayer today, said Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of campus life.  Students, staff and faculty were invited to use this space as a place to be together for encouragement and support during this difficult time.

A memorial service for Hamilton is scheduled to take place sometime next week during ACU's daily Chapel session at 11 a.m. in Moody Coliseum.

Funeral plans are pending.