The Charger Blog

University Community Celebrates Legacy of Graduate Student who ӰԭDreamed BigӰԭ

Priyanshu Agwal Ӱԭ24 M.S., a candidate in the UniversityӰԭs masterӰԭs degree program in business analytics, was the victim of a hit-and-run accident in New Haven last month. Members of the Charger community gathered to remember an individual whose Ӱԭhappiness was contagious.Ӱԭ

November 15, 2023

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Priyanshu Agwal Ӱԭ24 M.S.
Priyanshu Agwal Ӱԭ24 M.S.

When Rishav Kant '24 M.S. thinks of his friend Priyanshu Agwal Ӱԭ24 M.S., he remembers how Agwal would greet him with a big smile. He says thatӰԭs how Agwal greeted everyone he saw in the library or in class.

Kant was among AgwalӰԭs friends who recently shared their stories and treasured memories of him as part of a celebration of life held recently at the University. Agwal, who had been pursuing a masterӰԭs degree in business analytics and was planning to graduate this spring, was the victim of a hit-and-run accident in New Haven last month. Kant had seen Agwal just two days earlier.

ӰԭI met him in the , and he was excited to be applying for jobs,Ӱԭ recalls Kant, a candidate in the UniversityӰԭs graduate program in business analytics. ӰԭHe also loved New York, and he wanted to work there.Ӱԭ

Rishav Kant '24 M.S.
Rishav Kant '24 M.S. speaks as part of the celebration of Priyanshu AgwalӰԭs life.

An international student who hailed from Deoli, India, Agwal came to the U.S. in 2022. HeӰԭd served as a business analyst intern with for the past year. His professors described him as a successful student who was well-respected by his classmates.

AgwalӰԭs brother Aman Agwal Ӱԭ23 MBA is a recent graduate of the University. Speaking on behalf of the Agwal family as part of the celebration of life, Atithi Pawar Ӱԭ24 M.S. said that the brothers had always gone to different schools Ӱԭ until they both became Chargers.

ӰԭEveryone said that two Agwals in one school was too much,Ӱԭ said Pawar with a smile. ӰԭPriyanshu had strong personality from the start. He dreamed big, and he loved it here.Ӱԭ

ӰԭThe beautiful life called PriyanshuӰԭ

When AgwalӰԭs parents visited him in the U.S., he showed them around New Haven and the region. His family returned after the accident, staying with him in the hospital and meeting his many friends and fellow Chargers who came to visit him and offer their support. The family made the decision to donate AgwalӰԭs heart.

ӰԭHis legacy lives on, and he gave a person a second chance at life,Ӱԭ said Surabhi Shreekant Nagraj Ӱԭ24 M.S., AgwalӰԭs friend and the president of the UniversityӰԭs . ӰԭHe was an outstanding student and friend. His happiness was contagious. He reminds us that our time is finite. Let us not only mourn him, letӰԭs celebrate his legacy.Ӱԭ

Atithi Pawar Ӱԭ24 M.S.
Atithi Pawar Ӱԭ24 M.S. spoke on behalf of Priyanshu AgwalӰԭs family.

As part of the ceremony, the Charger community celebrated AgwalӰԭs legacy. His classmates gathered to remember him, to share their favorite memories of him, and to offer their condolences to his family. They also viewed a slideshow of photos and videos of Agwal with his family in the U.S. and with the second family of friends and fellow Chargers that he created.

ӰԭThere are lots of people here, and that speaks to the person Priyanshu was,Ӱԭ said Steve Macchiarolo, director of graduate and international student life. ӰԭHe was outgoing, full of life, and loved by many. He lived life to the fullest every day, and he made sure he got the most of his experience in the U.S. and at the University.Ӱԭ

The University will confer AgwalӰԭs degree posthumously during Spring Commencement. Kant, AgwalӰԭs friend, says his friends will continue to remember him and to celebrate the life he lived.

ӰԭIt feels like Priyanshu is always there for us,Ӱԭ he said. ӰԭWhen our friends meet, weӰԭll get a beer for him and celebrate the beautiful life called Priyanshu.Ӱԭ

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