Virginia Tech has identified the man who died while hiking at Cascade Falls on Saturday.

The school says John Paul Ojaojogwu Usman was taking classes at the Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute as a participant in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

Usman fell into the water while hiking at the Cascades, which is about a half-hour from Blacksburg. He was from Nigeria.

This summer the Language and Culture Institute was selected to host 25 fellows from 21 countries to take six weeks of classes. Eighteen of the fellows were on the hike, accompanied by two staff members from the institute.

“Our thoughts are with John Paul’s family in this difficult time. We are devastated by this tragic event,” said Don Back, director of the Language and Cultural Institute. “John Paul was a very caring young man, quite accomplished as a youth mentor despite his young age. His interest was in peace building. He was so proud to be here and a joy to have in class. Upon completion of the fellowship, he planned to continue training young people in ethics, civics, and leadership in Nigeria.”

The U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria released the following statement:

We extend our deepest condolences to John Paul’s family and friends over this tragic loss. John Paul was a rising star, devoted to the causes of sustainable development, children’s rights, and peacebuilding in Nigeria. His selection to the Mandela Washington Fellowship was a tribute to his drive, talent, and dedication to making his country’s civil society even stronger. One of John Paul’s professional mentors at Virginia Tech put it best, “While his time with us was short, he was well loved.” This young man will be remembered fondly as a great citizen ambassador of his country. We mourn his passing.