The NW community is mourning two students who have passed away two days apart (Jan 22 and 24). According to the Shawnee Police, the deaths are unrelated and the students have been identified as freshmen Steven Cohenour and Nioka (Dylan) Vinson. Cohenour’s parents have released the following statement:

“There are no words to express the depths of our loss and we realize that there are many in the SMNW community that were also touched by the light that we knew as Steven. Thank you for all of your thoughts and expressions of support. We hope that all can celebrate his life, remembering his friendship and laughter. We can only move through this time of grief one step at a time, depending on each other as one big family.”