AUSTIN, Texas — An investigation is underway after a cadet from Taylor died at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.
According to the Air Force Academy, 19-year-old Avery Koonce was found unconscious in her dormitory Wednesday night. Academy first responders were called to the scene and attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful.
Koonce was a 2024 graduate of Thrall High School and enrolled in the Air Force Academy shortly after graduation.
She was scheduled to graduate as a member of the class of 2028 and was also a member of the Academy's Women's Track and Field team.
Earlier this year, Koonce placed highly in the UIL Spring Meet in the 100 Meters, 200 Meters and Pole Vault. She also represented Thrall by competing in the UIL 2A State Championships.
According to the Taylor Press, Koonce took part in cross country, powerlifting and track and field as a senior. She was also a member of the high school cheerleading squad. She was honored by the district in March after receiving the Congressional Nomination for the Air Force Academy from Congressman Pete Sessions.
Sessions described Koonce as a "thoughtful and articulate young woman" and always willing to go the extra mile as a track star. That's why Sessions began the yearlong process to get Koonce into the United States Air Force Academy, which requires a nomination from a member of Congress.
"[She] said, 'I want to be a pilot. I want to fly,'" Sessions said. "It was everybody's favorite daughter in Texas who would be representing not just Thrall but Texas at the United States Air Force Academy."
In a statement, Koonce's parents Eric and Kelly Koonce described her as "an incredible bright light in this broken world," and that their lives "will forever be diminished because of her absence."
Here is the full statement from Koonce's parents:
"Our daughter Cadet Avery Koonce was an incredible bright light in this broken world. Our lives will forever be diminished because of her absence. Avery is truly loved by so many. We have peace in the knowledge Avery is in the arms of her Heavenly Father and we will be with her again. Avery was not a perfect person but was a perfect daughter. Loving on her brothers and learning how to live with Avery’s loss is our only focus right now. We are beyond blessed for the 19 amazing years we got to call Avery ours. We are praying for all of those that are bearing the incredible darkness of her loss."
Chip Osborne was on the congressman's panel for high school students who wanted to get into one of the service academies, selecting Koonce to be a representative with the Air Force Academy.
"I looked at her and I said, 'Avery, with grades like this and an aptitude score like this, you sure you don't want to be an astronaut instead?' She goes, 'I'm going to work on that,'" Osborne said.
With Koonce now gone, Osborne and Sessions are amongst the many community members mourning her loss.
"All we can do is just hold onto the bright memories that we have of Avery," Osborne said.