19-Year-Old Appalachian State Student Dies From COVID-19 Illness

NORTH CAROLINA — Appalachian State University is appealing to students to wear face masks and practice social distancing following the death of a 19-year-old sophomore who lost his life to complications from COVID-19.

Chad Dorrill, 19, died Sept. 28 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, the Watauga Democrat reported.

“It is with the deepest sadness that I share with you that one of our students, Chad Dorrill, has died,” Appalachian State Chancellor Sheri Everts said in a statement to students. “The hearts of the entire Appalachian community are with Chad’s family and loved ones during this profoundly difficult and painful time. Tributes shared by friends and loved ones show the positive impact Chad had on the communities he loved and called home, which included App State and Boone.”

Dorrill, who was an exercise major, lived off campus and had been attending classes remotely when he contracted COVID-19 in early September, according to the newspaper.

“When he began feeling unwell earlier this month, his mother encouraged him to come home, quarantine, and be tested for COVID-19,” Everts said. “After testing positive for COVID-19 in his home county, he followed isolation procedures and was cleared by his doctor to return to Boone.”

His return to the mountain town was brief. He began to experience additional complications, which led his family to take him home. He was later hospitalized.

"Please stay vigilant and keep showing your love for each other by practicing the 3Ws," the university told students Wednesday, referring to wearing a mask, waiting 6-feet apart and washing hands regularly. The school said it is offering free COVID-19 tests for all students, faculty and staff.

As of Thursday, App State reported 181 students and four employees had tested positive for COVID-19.

News of Dorrill's death stunned students, according to one report. "It definitely resonates with me," App State student Liam Dunman told WSOC. "You don't hear about people our age dying from it at all, so it definitely got a little bit more real for me."

"Everyone says it's the older people it affects the most," Briar Taylor told the station. "But he was healthy, and seeing it happen to him makes me feel a little more worried about everything."

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