It is with great sorrow that we remember Winter Knutson, a promising young student from Cornell University whose life was tragically cut short. Winter, a 21-year-old sophomore majoring in Environmental Science, passed away on November 5, 2024, after a heartbreaking incident at Fall Creek Gorge in Ithaca, New York. Emergency responders recovered their body following a series of tragic events involving Cornell students that day. Winter’s unexpected death has left the Cornell community reeling, with friends, faculty, and fellow students mourning the loss of a compassionate, intelligent, and deeply dedicated individual.
Winter was more than just an exceptional student. Raised in Seattle by two scientists, they developed an early passion for environmental issues, particularly sustainability and climate change. This passion led Winter to Cornell University, where they pursued a degree in Environmental Science with a focus on sustainability. Their academic rigor and curiosity about the natural world made them a standout student.
Winter was deeply involved in the Cornell community, not only through their academic work but also through a variety of extracurricular activities. They were an active member of the Cornell Environmental Collaborative, the Climate Justice Coalition, and Cornell Outdoor Education, where they volunteered to lead hikes and teach sustainability workshops.
Winter’s commitment to the environment extended far beyond the classroom. They believed in the power of collective action and worked tirelessly to promote environmental justice both on campus and in the Ithaca community. Winter’s loss is not just a personal tragedy but a profound loss for the field of environmental science, which Winter was poised to contribute to significantly.
As the community grapples with this loss, Winter’s legacy lives on in the lives they touched, the causes they championed, and the example they set as a passionate and dedicated advocate for a more sustainable world. Winter will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
