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Arielle DaCosta (COL ’11) died while studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain.
*Updated at 2:18 p.m. on Oct. 9.*
Arielle DaCosta (COL ’11) died this week while studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain.
University officials were informed of DaCosta’s death by authorities in Spain late Tuesday, according to an e-mail from Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson that was sent to the campus community this afternoon.
DaCosta was studying at the University of Salamanca in a program arranged by Georgetown’s Office of International Programs. According to Olson, she was pronounced dead at Hospital Clinico, a hospital located near the University of Salamanca. Olson did not specify the cause of DaCosta’s death.
According to MarÃÂa Torres, secretary to the director of international studies at the University of Salamanca, DaCosta studied Spanish language and culture in Salamanca and achieved excellent academic results.
DaCosta, who lived in Stoughton, Mass., graduated from Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Mass. in 2007.
A memorial Mass for DaCosta was held at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday in Dahlgren Chapel.
Olson advised members of the community to consult Residence Life staff, chaplains, faculty members, Campus Ministry staff, or the Counseling and Psychiatric Service if needed. CAPS can be reached at (202) 444-7243.
Officials at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, as well as DaCosta’s family, could not be reached for comment. Magdalena Chica-Garzon, the adviser to study-abroad programs in Spain in the Office of International Programs, declined to comment.
*Stay tuned to [thehoya.com](https://www.thehoya.com) for updates.*”
