Julia Kathleen Pryde

(CBS/AP)  Julia Pryde, 23, was a graduate student in biological systems engineering from Middleton, N.J.

"[Julia] was an exceptional student academically and personally," said Saied
Mostaghimi, chairman of the biological systems and engineering department where Pryde was seeking her master's degree.

"She was the nicest person you ever met," Mostaghimi told The Star-Ledger of Newark.

The previous summer, Pryde had traveled to Ecuador to research water quality issues with a professor. She planned to return this summer for follow-up work, Mostaghimi said.

A 2001 graduate of Middletown North High School, Pryde was on the school's the swim team and played softball in two town leagues.

Her hometown has been touched by tragedy before, losing 37 residents and former residents in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"The town pulls together in these situations. Everything that we can do for this family, we'll see what can be done," Middletown Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger said.

Click On The Names Below To Learn More About Those Who Lost Their Lives At Virginia Tech:

• Ross Abdallah Alameddine
• James Christopher Bishop
• Brian Bluhm
• Ryan Clark
• Austin Cloyd
• Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
• Daniel Perez Cueva
• Kevin Granata
• Mathew Gregory Gwaltney
• Caitlin Hammaren
• Jeremy Herbstritt
• Rachael Elizabeth Hill
• Emily Jane Hilscher
• Jarrett Lane
• Matthew Joseph La Porte
• Henry Lee

• Liviu Librescu
• G.V. Loganathan
• Lauren McCain
• Partahi Lumbantoruan
• Daniel O'Neil
• Juan Ramon Ortiz
• Minal Panchal
• Erin Peterson
• Michael Pohle
• Julia Pryde
• Mary Karen Read
• Reema Samaha
• Waleed Mohamed Shaalan
• Leslie Sherman
• Maxine Turner
• Nicole White