The year 2009 ended in a tragic turn when University of Wisconsin senior Shanica Adkins was killed in a car accident early New Years Eve.
According to Milwaukee Police Department Officer Jonathon Newport, a moving vehicle hit Adkins at 2:30 a.m. Newport said she died at the scene of the accident.
According to court records, Johnny Jerome Jones is charged with second degree reckless homicide along with three other felony charges associated with the accident.
Adkins’ academic adviser Belinda Velazquez said Adkins was a senior who would be graduating in May with a degree in social work. Velazquez added Adkins had already been accepted to a program that would allow her to earn her master’s degree in social work in May 2011.
According to Velazquez, mental health was a particular area of interest to Adkins, who hoped to work in Wisconsin and expressed interest in becoming a clinical social worker.
Velazquez described Adkins as an outstanding student who maintained top grades while taking on larger than average credit loads as well as extracurricular activities.
“She was very sweet, very positive and definitely very focused on continuing further with her education,” Velazquez said.
UW sophomore Precious Alford, who attended high school with Adkins, said Adkins was someone she looked up to both in high school and college.
“Her spirit has encouraged me,” Alford said. “Her passion and love is my motivation.”
UW Social Work Program Director Jan Greenberg echoed Alford’s sentiment, saying he thought Adkins wanted to be a role model for her younger siblings.
Greenberg said Adkins had six younger sisters and three younger brothers, and she took being a role model to them very seriously. He added Adkins was the first child in her family to attend college.
Greenberg worked with Adkins at the Waisman Center, a research center focusing on human development and developmental disabilities. He said she was an excellent worker and an important part of his research team.
UW will be holding a memorial service for Adkins Jan. 25, at the Memorial Union in Tripp Commons between 10 and 11:30 a.m.,, and all students and faculty are encouraged to attend.
