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Prior days' news: By date | Search This week's print issue Back issues: By date | Search April 19, 2007Austin Michelle CloydAs the daughter of a professor, Austin Michelle Cloyd, 18, moved from state to state following her father’s academic career. And each time she did, she never had trouble making new friends. Described as bright and warm by those who knew her, Ms. Cloyd excelled in both academics and athletics, participating on her high-school basketball and volleyball teams, and working as a lifeguard for Virginia Tech, where her father became an accounting professor in 2005.  Photo by Uma Patel The Rev. Don Jackson, now lead pastor at Riverside United Methodist Church in Moline, Ill., knew Ms. Cloyd when they both lived in Champaign. He was the leader of the youth group she participated in, and his son, Jason was her close friend. “She was just a very caring, very friendly young girl,” Reverend Jackson says. “Kids were just attracted to her.” Ms. Cloyd went on mission trips to Appalachia, where she and friends from church helped poor families by fixing their homes, repairing roofs and broken pipes. That work inspired her to do more to help others, Reverend Jackson says. She chose to major in international studies at Virginia Tech. “She wanted to get involved in the United Nations to promote peace and justice,” Reverend Jackson says. “She was just a sweet girl.” —Dan Carnevale Posted on Thursday April 19, 2007 | Permalink | |