BREAKING: Viterbi student dies in Hawaii


Haibo Zhang, a graduate student in the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, died Monday in a drowning accident, according to a memorandum sent Wednesday by the Office of Graduate and Professional Programs at the Viterbi School of Engineering.

Zhang, 24, was on vacation in Hawaii when the incident occurred. Kelly Goulis, senior associate dean at the Viterbi School of Engineering, sent the memorandum to Viterbi graduate students and faculty Wednesday afternoon to notify them of Zhang’s passing.

According to the memorandum, Zhang came to USC from Xilinhaote, China. He was set to receive a degree in Civil Engineering (Transportation Engineering) and a graduate certificate in Transportation this May, and hoped to work in the United States following his graduation this May.