The University community mourns the loss of Lauren Blackburn, a member of the Class of 2026, who died last week at Lake Carnegie at the age of 23.

Blackburn was an English major and creative writing minor from Corydon, Indiana, where he graduated from Corydon Central High School and was a National Merit Scholar and Gates Scholar. 

At Princeton, he was a recipient of the Sam Hutton Fund for the Arts, which supports undergraduate summer study, travel and independent research in the Lewis Center for the Arts.

A member of New College West, he enjoyed playing table tennis, was involved in the Korean Literature Club and Korean Student Association, and wrote for The Daily Princetonian.   

Surviving family members include parents Soonhee and Martin Blackburn, and siblings Elisabeth, Colin, Cardon and Quincy Blackburn.

A funeral service will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 215 W. Chestnut St. in Corydon, Indiana. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the church. Gifts in Blackburn’s memory may be made to the International Bipolar Foundation.

The University has extended condolences to the Blackburn family, and in a message posted on the University’s Campus Life website, the family expressed their “profound gratitude” for the “outpouring of love, prayers and well wishes” they had received from the Princeton community.

On Friday, April 25, the University hosted an opportunity on campus for students to gather, reflect and support one another.

Students should not hesitate to reach out to Counseling and Psychological Services (which can be reached 24 hours a day at 609-258-3141), Office of Religious Life chaplains, residential college staff, and Graduate School staff. Faculty and staff can seek support by calling Carebridge at (800) 437-0911.