Incoming Freshman Kevin Costello passed away Tuesday morning after spending three days in critical condition at Stanford Medical Center. He had been admitted to the center on Aug. 27 for injuries he incurred after a 40-foot fall during a hiking trip in the Marin Headlands.

While hiking at the Headlands Institute in Marin County, Costello lost his footing on a trail and fell 40-50 feet into the ocean. According to a U.S. Coast Guard press release, Costello fell from a cliff at Rodeo Cove approximately one mile north of Point Bonita. He was traveling with 22 other SF State classmates and a member of the SF State faculty on a retreat held as part of the University's Presidential Scholars Program.

"The University is shocked and deeply saddened by Kevin's untimely death,” stated University president Robert A. Corrigan in a press release from today. “This tragic accident has cut short the life of an exceptional young man whose lively intellect and joyous spirit were already winning him a host of new friends on campus. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Kevin's family, as well as his friends and fellow students. This is a truly heartbreaking loss."

On Friday, Aug. 27 Costello had been rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard by helicopter and taken to the medical center.

In April, Costello and his other classmates were announced as this year's recipients of the Presidential Scholars award, which provides all of them with four years of funding for their tuition, housing and textbooks. The University calls the program the “most distinguished academic award for first-time freshmen.”

17-year-old Costello graduated this year as valedictorian of Monterey County High School in Watsonville, CA.

DJ Morales, SF State Director of Residential Life Housing and Residential Services said that counseling has been offered to any student who had requested it.

“I feel badly that we had him for such a short time,” Morales said. “We have some amazing students here, but sometimes you just know that they are extraordinary. And from what I had read and heard about him I knew that he was. I just feel badly that we didn’t get the opportunity to get to know him that well.”

Not many people did have a chance to get to know Costello very well. Among the freshly decorated hallways of the SF State dormitory and the personalized doors covered in magazine clippings, political stickers and rock band logos, his door remained bare, with just a small name tag made of construction paper saying “Kevin” taped next to it.

A memorial service was held Aug. 31 for Costello at City Eats Dining Center at SF State.