The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

International student dies

“I never thought driving 35 [mph] could kill,” Troy Johnson said about the Sept. 22 accident that fatally injured his 19-year-old fiancee, Wai-Kwan Au.
Johnson said the steering gave way when he gave Au a ride home from City College.
Au was pinned under the truck when it rolled. She was taken to Cottage Hospital in a coma, where she passed away on Sept. 26, after her parents and one of two sisters arrived from Hong Kong.
At the Sept. 30 Student Senate meeting, Senator Marie L. Garcia read her report of the Sept. 25 Board of Trustees meeting where Superintendent-President John Romo announced Au’s dire condition.
Garcia took flowers with a card to the hospital. The card read, “Wai-Kwan Au: From the students of SBCC, my prayers will be with you.”
Kam Choi, from the Chinese Evangelical Free Church, volunteered to translate.
Choi said Mr. and Mrs. Au are grateful for financial help offered by City College and feel people here really care for them.
Au, also known as “Penny,” came to City College in August.
“Penny was gregarious, outgoing and stood out in a crowd,” said Derrick Banks, director of the International Student Support Program.
English teacher Michele Peterson wrote in an e-mail, “She was an “A” student and her presence enriched the class.”
“I know I’ll miss such a good student,” said French teacher Jehanne Brown.

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