Students at Exeter High School gathered Friday night for a vigil to remember a 17-year-old senior who was killed in a vehicle crash Wednesday.Emma Jacobs was on the Exeter High girls' lacrosse team. Previously the team was rocked by the loss of its assistant coach, Brentwood Police Officer Steven Arkell.“(Jacobs) always put others before herself,” said Tim Head, a senior at Exeter High School. “She taught veterans how to surf through the Wounded Warriors Project. She’s always been there for everyone. She wasn’t just friends with one person. She was friends with everyone.”Students gathered for the vigil before a game Friday. They described Jacobs as someone they could always count on.“Whenever someone was down, she would put a smile on your face with a joke, any way she could,” said Allison Woodilla, a senior at Exeter High.Students said Jacobs had a big, generous spirit.“You lose, like, a part of your heart. Like there’s a hole right there in your heart,” said Alyssa Burditt, a senior at Exeter High.Some found it hard to believe that two deaths could hit the same school in the same year.“Certainly it’s something you never want a high school to go through even once, never mind multiple times,” said Jim Tremblay, Exeter High’s principal.Tremblay said he has been amazed by the compassion and strength of a school community tempered by tragedy. He said that’s what’s carrying everyone through.“We need to make sure that we’re supporting Emma and her family and her friends and her extended family with all of our warm thoughts at this time,” Tremblay said.

Students at Exeter High School gathered Friday night for a vigil to remember a 17-year-old senior who was killed in a vehicle crash Wednesday.

Emma Jacobs was on the Exeter High girls' lacrosse team. Previously the team was rocked by the loss of its assistant coach, Brentwood Police Officer Steven Arkell.


“(Jacobs) always put others before herself,” said Tim Head, a senior at Exeter High School. “She taught veterans how to surf through the Wounded Warriors Project. She’s always been there for everyone. She wasn’t just friends with one person. She was friends with everyone.”

Students gathered for the vigil before a game Friday. They described Jacobs as someone they could always count on.

“Whenever someone was down, she would put a smile on your face with a joke, any way she could,” said Allison Woodilla, a senior at Exeter High.

Students said Jacobs had a big, generous spirit.

“You lose, like, a part of your heart. Like there’s a hole right there in your heart,” said Alyssa Burditt, a senior at Exeter High.

Some found it hard to believe that two deaths could hit the same school in the same year.

“Certainly it’s something you never want a high school to go through even once, never mind multiple times,” said Jim Tremblay, Exeter High’s principal.

Tremblay said he has been amazed by the compassion and strength of a school community tempered by tragedy. He said that’s what’s carrying everyone through.

“We need to make sure that we’re supporting Emma and her family and her friends and her extended family with all of our warm thoughts at this time,” Tremblay said.