Filed at 06:26 PM

Junior Andrea Celeste Morton passed away suddenly this morning because of a sudden medical condition.

Morton, a clinical health studies major and a resident assistant in Emerson Hall, was recently honored with the Peggy R. Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership.

David Maley, associate director of media relations, said when Morton was feeling ill, she first went to the Health Center last Thursday. From there, she was transported to Cayuga Medical Center and then on Friday she was transferred from Cayuga Medical Center to SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y.

Maley said Morton was cared for in SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse from Friday until she passed away today.

Terry Martinez, director of student engagement and multicultural affairs and helped choosing the recipients of the Peggy R. Williams award, said Morton was a member of the Physical Therapy Association, Oracle Society and Ithaca College Chorus. She also studied abroad for a semester in China.

Brian McAree, vice president of student affairs and campus life, said Morton’s death is a loss to the community.

“We have just lost an incredible young woman who was a valued member of the Ithaca College community,” he said. “Our hearts and prayers go out to her family, her friends, her faculty and her fellow students at this very difficult time. We will keep everybody in our prayers.”

Senior Josh Giordano, a resident assistant in Emerson and friend of Morton, said he will remember Morton most for her compassionate nature.

“A couple weeks ago when she had mono, for my birthday she, at her staff meeting, took the couch, had balloons all around had a sign that said, ‘This is reserved for the birthday boy,’” he said. “She made a dessert for me [even] after she’d missed a couple days of school and she was not in peak condition … it made my day and it was awesome.”

Morton also minored in voice — something Giordano said was one of her many talents.

“Whenever she was on office duty you could always hear her playing or singing along to [music],” he said. “You could just walk past her room and you would always hear her singing. … It just showed how happy she was.”

Will Waldau, a former student at the college who had Morton as a resident assistant last year, said Morton was a genuine person.

“She was always happy,” he said. “Full of life — that’s how she was. She was always happy no matter what.”

Jill Trottier, a resident assistant in Emerson Hall and friend of Morton who took classes with her, said she loved being at the college and made a great addition to the campus community.

“She was always smiling, she was always happy and she cared a lot about how people are doing,” she said.

Michael A. Pagliarulo, professor and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, said though he did not know Morton on a personal level, he knew she was a well-liked student.

“Her adviser describes her as an individual who was always organized, engaged in her studies, loved her studies,” he said. “I’ve already heard expressions of grief from the OT students as well as from the PT students.”

Pagliarulo said as a father of three young adults he couldn’t imagine how this loss impacts her parents.

“The entire members of our department, students, faculty and staff send our deepest condolences to the family members,” he said.

Members of the campus community are welcome to attend a vigil at 6 p.m. today in Muller Chapel. Anyone needing support can visit the chapel or call the Counseling Center at 274-3136.

Check back for more information throughout the day.