Qingyang Zhan Obituary – On Sunday morning, a tragic incident occurred in Topsham, where a Bowdoin College student was discovered deceased in a parking lot near the Frank J. Wood Bridge. The Topsham police promptly responded to a report of the deceased individual, a 20-year-old woman from California who was enrolled at the nearby college. The parking lot was being utilized to store equipment for an ongoing bridge replacement project.
The state medical examiner’s office has conducted an autopsy, and the police are currently awaiting the results. The cause and manner of death have not been specified in the news release provided by Topsham police Chief Marc Hagan. Chief Hagan assured the community that there is no active threat, and the investigation is ongoing.
Chief Hagan expressed condolences to the family, friends, and the Bowdoin College community in the news release. The woman’s name has not been disclosed at this time to allow for proper notification of her loved ones. However, Bowdoin President Safa Zaki sent a letter to the college community, identifying the student as Qingyang Zhan, also known as K. President Zaki expressed deep sorrow and shock over the loss.
Qingyang Zhan, originally from Shanghai, has been residing in the United States since 2019. She pursued a double major in government and legal studies and Asian studies at Bowdoin, having previously studied in California. Zhan was actively involved in various student associations, including the Chinese Students Association and the Asian Student Association. She was also a talented musician, playing the piano and guitar in the Bowdoin Concert Band. Described as a student with a profound interest in theological and philosophical matters, Zhan made a lasting impression on her academic advisor and faculty members. In light of this tragic event, counselors and student affairs staff are available to provide support to the students affected by this loss.
