A beloved coach. A senior headed to college on a swimming scholarship. Teenagers who died surrounded by their friends.
These are the victims of Wednesday's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Authorities have not formally identified any of the victims, but friends, family and coaches are sharing their memories.
Nicholas Dworet
A senior headed to swim competitively for the University of Indianapolis, Dworet is being remembered as a hard-working role model who found excellence in discipline.
"This is a kid who went from middle of the pack last year to being just lights out," his coach, Andre Bailey, of TS Aquatics in Broward County, Fla., said. "He helped put our program on the map."
Jamie Guttenberg
One of the first victims identified, Guttenberg's Facebook profile has already been turned into a memorial site. Her parents posted frantic messages on social media seeking help in finding their "baby girl," but later confirmed she died in the shooting.
“My heart is broken. Yesterday, Jennifer Guttenberg and I lost our baby girl to a violent shooting at her school,” Jaime Guttenberg’s father, Fred Guttenberg, told friends on Facebook. “We lost our daughter and my son Jesse Guttenberg lost his sister. I am broken as I write this trying to figure out how my family gets through this.”
Aaron Feis
An assistant football coach and security guard, Feis died shielding students from the shooter, the school's football team said in a tweet: "He died a hero and he will forever be in our hearts and memories."
Feis graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 1999 and coached the school's junior varsity team for eight years starting in 2002. He had recently been working with linemen on the school's junior varsity and varsity teams. He was married with a wife and daughter, according to the team.
Gina Montalto, 14
A freshman and member of the winter guard team, Montalto is being remembered as a vivacious and enthusiastic member of the school community.
“My heart is broken into pieces. I will forever remember you my sweet angel,” her former coach, Manuel Miranda told the Miami Herald. “She was the sweetest soul ever. She was kind, caring always smiling and wanting to help.”
Chris Hixon
A married father of two and the athletic director at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Chris Hixon wasn't shy about jumping in wherever he was needed, said friend and one-time colleague Dianne Sanzari.
Hixon was a member of a Roman Catholic church in Hollywood. The Archdiocese of Miami confirmed his death Thursday.
When a volleyball team needed a fill-in coach, Hixon took over; the same thing happened with the wrestling team, Sanzari said. And when the school needed someone to patrol the campus and monitor threats as a security specialist, Hixon did that, too.
"While he was a security monitor, he did the very best he could to also serve in that athletic administration role," said Sanzari.
It was in that security role that Hixon apparently came within range of the shooter. Sanzari, a retired athletic director, said she was stunned when she heard Hixon had been shot, then cried inconsolably when she found he had been killed.
"He loved his family, he loved his job," she said. "Chris was just amazing."
Meadow Pollack, 18
Meadow Pollack's parents called her phone repeatedly only to hear it ring, as they kept an anxious vigil outside the hospital. But on Thursday, her father, Andrew Pollack, confirmed that his daughter was among the dead, the Palm Beach Post reported Thursday.
Eighteen-year-old Pollack, a senior, had planned to attend Lynn University, her father, Andrew Pollack, said, showing the newspaper a photo of their daughter wearing a dark strapless dress.
"Her life was taken way too soon and I have no words to describe how this feels," friend Gii Lovito posted on Facebook.
Family friend Adam Schachtel said in a Facebook post that "an angel was taken away from us in that horrific tragedy ... no words can be said so just prayers and sadness."
The Palm Beach Post reported that Pollack's parents had gone to the hospital to look for their daughter after she didn't answer repeated phone calls.
Joaquin Oliver, 17
Born in Venezuela, Oliver moved to the United States as an infant and became an American citizen in January 2017, according to friends and family.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, his friend Tyra Hemats said they had just been discussing their upcoming graduation and college plans.
“He’s never going to graduate high school like I get to graduate,” Hemats said. “He’s literally stuck there forever.”
Alyssa Alhadeef, 15
An amateur soccer club said one of its players, Alyssa Alhadeef, was among the students killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Parkland Soccer Club posted on its Facebook page that Alhadeff was a "loved and well respected member of our club and community."
The club posted a note it said was from her family which read: "To Alyssa's Friends honor Alyssa by doing something fabulous in your life. Don't ever give up and inspire for greatness. Live for Alyssa! Be her voice and breathe for her. Alyssa loved you all forever!"
The organization asked members to wear red uniform tops and meet at a soccer field for an event to honor Alyssa.
"Feel free to bring flowers and candles," said the note.
Alaina Petty, 14
Fourteen-year-old Alaina Petty was among those who died in the shooting, great-aunt Claudette McMahon Joshi confirmed in a Facebook post.
"There are no hastags for moments like this, only sadness," she wrote, asking people to lift up Petty's family in prayer.
Petty attended a local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Petty was a "valiant young member of the Coral Springs Ward," Church leader Stephen E. Thompson wrote in an update.
Scott Beigel, 35
Students said geography teacher Scott Beigel, 35, helped them enter a locked classroom to avoid the gunman and paying for the brave act with his life.
"If the shooter would have come into the room, I probably wouldn't be speaking to you now," student Kelsey Friend told Good Morning America.
Friend said when she heard gunshots and realized it wasn't a drill she followed other students toward the classroom.
Beigel "unlocked the door and let us in," she said. "I thought he was behind me, but he wasn't. When he opened the door he had to relock it so we could stay safe, but he didn't get a chance to."
Student Bruna Oliveda said she saw Beigel blocking the door.
"I don't know how we're alive," she said.
Facebook friends remembered Beigel as "an inspiration to many" and "my hero."
Martin Duque
Shooting victim Martin Duque was one of Isaac Briones' best friends.
"He was like, one of the nicest people I knew," said Briones, 15. "He was so caring."
Briones said he last saw Martin the day of the shooting during first period.
"We were just playing around, talking about jokes and stuff," said Isaac, who was outside the school Thursday with others holding a group of white balloons for the victims.
On Instagram, Miguel Duque wrote that words can't describe the pain of losing his brother. He added: "I love brother Martin you'll be missed buddy. I know you're in a better place. Duques forever man I love you junior!!! R.I.P Martin Duque!"
Peter Wang
Peter Wang, a 15-year-old ROTC student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, wasn't interested in status but wanted to help others, relatives said.
A cousin, Aaron Chen, told the Miami Herald that Wang was last seen holding a door open so others could get away from the gunman.
Friends and relatives first thought Wang was just missing and checked with area hospitals. They later found out he had been killed.
"He wasn't supposed to die," Chen told First Coast News.
Luke Hoyer
Fifteen-year-old Luke Hoyer was a loving, sweet person who loved basketball and "smiled all the time," his aunt Joan Cox said.
"He was just a good kid ... very loving and just enjoyed life," said Cox, of Greenville, South Carolina.
She said Luke's parents, Gena and Tom Hoyer, searched for their son at hospitals before finally going to the law enforcement command center, where they eventually learned he had died.
"It's just a terrible thing," said Cox, who said the family — including Luke's older sister Abby and brother Jake — spent Christmas with her and other family in South Carolina. "We just all pretty much can't get over it."
Cara Loughran, 14
Cara Loughran, 14, was an excellent student who loved the beach and her cousins, according to her family.
An aunt, Lindsay Fontana, wrote on Facebook: "I had to tell my 8-year-old daughters that their sweet cousin Cara was killed in the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School yesterday. We are absolutely gutted."
"While your thoughts are appreciated, I beg you to DO SOMETHING," she wrote. "This should not have happened to our niece Cara and it cannot happen to other people's families."
Loughran's neighbor posted a picture of her cheering on a young boy riding a bike with training wheels.
"RIP Cara," Danny Vogel wrote, "and fly with the angels. You will be greatly missed, and we will always love you and celebrate your beautiful life."
Alexander Schachter, 14
Trombone and baritone player Alex Schachter was a "sweetheart of a kid," according to a social media post by father Max Schachter.
In honor of his 14-year-old freshman son, Schachter wrote on a gofundme page that he was starting a scholarship fund "to help other students experience the joys of music as well as fund increased security at schools."
The message said: "Please help keep Alex's spirit alive."
Helena Ramsay, 17
Helena Ramsey was soft-spoken, but also smart and a go-getter, her cousin Sefena Cooper said Thursday.
The 17-year-old junior especially loved hanging out with friends and family, "and for this to happen is heartbreaking," Cooper said.
"Although somewhat reserved, she had a relentless motivation towards her academic studies and her soft warm demeanor brought the best out in all who knew her," another relative, Curtis Page Jr., wrote on Facebook.
Carmen Schentrup, 16
Carmen Schentrup was a smart girl with a sweet smile.
In September, she was named one of 53 National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists in the county and a classmate tweeted "we all praised for her intelligence."
Cousin Matt Brandow posted on Facebook that the 16-year-old visited Washington State recently and said she wanted to go to the University of Washington. He asked: you like the rain?
"She answers, I hate sweating in the humid Florida weather," Brandow wrote. "That's when I knew you were perfect for Washington."
Contributing: Vic Ryckaert and Emily Bohatch; Associated Press writers Jay Reeves, Tammy Webber, Rebecca Boone, David Porter.
