Grace Maxwell, a junior who touched many lives with her kindness, faith, and desire to help others, is being mourned by the Cedarville University community. On Wednesday, January 29, Maxwell was returning to campus from her home in Wichita, Kansas, after attending her grandfather’s funeral when she was one of the passengers killed in the American Airlines plane crash near Washington Reagan National Airport.
In an official statement, Cedarville University expressed deep sorrow over her passing:
“This is heartbreaking news for her family and for our campus community. Grace was a junior majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in biomedical engineering and was anticipating her graduation in 2026.”
Grace Maxwell and her roommate Annika Sher.A resident of Maddox Hall, Maxwell was known for her thoughtful and quiet leadership. She also worked as a grader for mechanical engineering faculty.
Maxwell was deeply committed to using her skills to help others. This semester, she was scheduled to work on a hand-stabilizing device for a young boy with disabilities, a project that embodied both her technical talent and compassionate heart. In addition to her engineering work, she was actively preparing to spend her spring break in London on a mission trip, sharing her love for Jesus Christ with others. Her desire to serve extended beyond academics, as she sought to make a difference both through innovation and personal outreach.
“Grace was a quiet person with a keen interest in helping others through engineering,” said Dr. Tim Norman, professor of mechanical engineering.
As we grieve, we find comfort in knowing that Grace is with Jesus Christ, and that those who believe in Him will see her again. Though her time on earth was far too short, her faith, kindness and dedication to serving others will never be forgotten.
