UNCG student found dead in NC mountains

Residents of High Point learned early Thursday that a missing University of North Carolina at Greensboro student has been found deceased. The body of the 22-year-old woman was located in the North Carolina mountains, ending a search that began after she failed to return from a hike.

University officials confirmed the discovery in a statement released in the morning. They noted that search operations had been coordinated with local law enforcement agencies to comb the rugged terrain. The student had been attending the UNC Greensboro campus since 2023, according to university records.

The deceased student was a graduate researcher in the Department of Global Change. She worked under the mentorship of Dr. Timothy Thomas at the UNC Global Change Center. Her research focused on ecosystem dynamics and carbon cycle feedbacks.

High Point Mayor Pro Tem Sherifa Fathali issued a statement on behalf of the city. She expressed gratitude to the emergency responders who worked in the area. "Our sincere thanks go out to every agency and individual who assisted in this search," Fathali said.

The mayor also acknowledged the disappointment of the outcome. She praised the dedication of the law enforcement and emergency personnel involved. The university identified the student as a 2023 graduate of the Master of Environmental Science program.

The student had been recognized for her academic contributions. She received the Heta Norman Fellowship from UNC Greensboro. She was also a recipient of the UNC Research Fund award for her work in global change science.