Ashley's Foundation

Pilgrimage to India comes to tragic end St. Martin star grad dies of unknown causes

TIMES-PICAYUNE, Wednesday, March 15, 2006

As an advanced yoga student, Ashley Conroy had a deep passion for Eastern religions and culture. But there was only so much reading and Web surfing she could do. A 2003 graduate of St. Martin's Episcopal School in Metairie, where she was homecoming queen and co-captain of the volleyball team, Conroy wanted to experience the culture up close.

She was especially interested in India. So deep was her yearning to explore its ancient traditions and spiritual practices that she took a semester off from the College of Charleston and enrolled in the Pacific Village Institute, an overseas study program for high school seniors and college students.

"If we could create something on paper for our ideal student, it was Ashley Conroy," Pacific Village co-founder John Eastman said from his headquarters in New York. "She was bright. She was outgoing. And she was on this trip for all the right reasons."

But on Tuesday, Eastman, along with Conroy's family, friends and the St. Martin's community, was mourning Conroy's death Saturday in Bodgaha, considered the world's most sacred Buddhist center.

The cause of Conroy's death is unknown. An autopsy was conducted and is under review by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. Eastman said foul play was not suspected. Embassy and State Department officials could not be reached for comment.

"Her body was discovered in the middle of the night by someone walking by" outside her dormitory, Eastman said. "We don't have any conclusive information at this time. But she was in a very safe compound in the world's major Buddhist site. We are all devastated and our hearts are pouring out to her family."

Conroy, 21, was participating in a three-month program called "From Brahma to Buddha: Cultures of the Indian Himalayas and the Ganges River." The program, which began Feb. 12, gives a students a chance to live and study in the country that gave birth to Hinduism and Buddhism. Students travel throughout India, visiting mosques and monasteries, living with contemporary and traditional families and taking language lessons.

"I spoke to her the night before she left, and she was so excited," said Bill Rosenbaum, a St. Martin's guidance counselor who remained in close contact with Conroy after she graduated. "What was motivating this particular journey was her interest in religious studies."

Conroy was majoring in college in psychology with a minor in religious studies. She explained her desire to study in India while introducing herself in November to fellow travelers in a Pacific Village blog:

"While I've learned many things about the philosophies and traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism, I feel as though I'm only able to scratch the surface of these wonderful religions in the class room," she wrote.

"I love the feeling of adventure and new discovery when traveling abroad, and I can't wait to meet you all so we can experience the amazing cultures of India together."

Volleyball co-captain

Those who knew Conroy well described her as a fun-loving, intelligent and courageous woman with a thirst for knowledge and adventure. At St. Martin's, she was co-captain of the volleyball team, homecoming queen and a member of the track team, Key Club and French Club. Last year, she was presented as a debutante in New Orleans by the Pickwick Club.

"Recently, she was very much into the spiritual side of life and finding herself," said close friend Becky Quintal, 21, who attended St. Martin's with Conroy. "She was beautiful, and she was loved. She couldn't hurt anyone's feelings if she tried."

Conroy's sister, Brooke, a freshman at Clemson University, said her sister was her best friend. She said she feels blessed to have been able to spend so much time with her sister even once they went off to college. With just four hours separating them in South Carolina, she said, "We got to see each other lot. We did everything from lying in bed and talking to going to the beach to going out to eat."

She said she was thrilled when her sister got the opportunity to study in India.

"She had this fascination with India, and she wouldn't let it go," Brooke said. "She had to go there."

As a tribute to Conroy, Brooke and her parents, Cindy Schmidt and Stephen Conroy, have formed the Ashley Soule Conroy Foundation to award scholarships to qualified students who are in financial need, so as to allow them to study abroad.

By Barri Bronston
East Jefferson bureau

		Pilgrimage to India comes to tragic end St. Martin star grad dies of unknown causes TIMES-PICAYUNE, Wednesday, March 15, 2006 As an advanced yoga student, Ashley Conroy had a deep passion for Eastern religions and culture. But there was only so much reading and Web surfing she could do. A 2003 graduate of St. Martin's Episcopal School in Metairie, where she was homecoming queen and co-captain of the volleyball team, Conroy wanted to experience the culture up close. She was especially interested in India. So deep was her yearning to explore its ancient traditions and spiritual practices that she took a semester off from the College of Charleston and enrolled in the Pacific Village Institute, an overseas study program for high school seniors and college students. "If we could create something on paper for our ideal student, it was Ashley Conroy," Pacific Village co-founder John Eastman said from his headquarters in New York. "She was bright. She was outgoing. And she was on this trip for all the right reasons." But on Tuesday, Eastman, along with Conroy's family, friends and the St. Martin's community, was mourning Conroy's death Saturday in Bodgaha, considered the world's most sacred Buddhist center. The cause of Conroy's death is unknown. An autopsy was conducted and is under review by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. Eastman said foul play was not suspected. Embassy and State Department officials could not be reached for comment. "Her body was discovered in the middle of the night by someone walking by" outside her dormitory, Eastman said. "We don't have any conclusive information at this time. But she was in a very safe compound in the world's major Buddhist site. We are all devastated and our hearts are pouring out to her family." Conroy, 21, was participating in a three-month program called "From Brahma to Buddha: Cultures of the Indian Himalayas and the Ganges River." The program, which began Feb. 12, gives a students a chance to live and study in the country that gave birth to Hinduism and Buddhism. Students travel throughout India, visiting mosques and monasteries, living with contemporary and traditional families and taking language lessons. "I spoke to her the night before she left, and she was so excited," said Bill Rosenbaum, a St. Martin's guidance counselor who remained in close contact with Conroy after she graduated. "What was motivating this particular journey was her interest in religious studies." Conroy was majoring in college in psychology with a minor in religious studies. She explained her desire to study in India while introducing herself in November to fellow travelers in a Pacific Village blog: "While I've learned many things about the philosophies and traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism, I feel as though I'm only able to scratch the surface of these wonderful religions in the class room," she wrote. "I love the feeling of adventure and new discovery when traveling abroad, and I can't wait to meet you all so we can experience the amazing cultures of India together." Volleyball co-captain Those who knew Conroy well described her as a fun-loving, intelligent and courageous woman with a thirst for knowledge and adventure. At St. Martin's, she was co-captain of the volleyball team, homecoming queen and a member of the track team, Key Club and French Club. Last year, she was presented as a debutante in New Orleans by the Pickwick Club. "Recently, she was very much into the spiritual side of life and finding herself," said close friend Becky Quintal, 21, who attended St. Martin's with Conroy. "She was beautiful, and she was loved. She couldn't hurt anyone's feelings if she tried." Conroy's sister, Brooke, a freshman at Clemson University, said her sister was her best friend. She said she feels blessed to have been able to spend so much time with her sister even once they went off to college. With just four hours separating them in South Carolina, she said, "We got to see each other lot. We did everything from lying in bed and talking to going to the beach to going out to eat." She said she was thrilled when her sister got the opportunity to study in India. "She had this fascination with India, and she wouldn't let it go," Brooke said. "She had to go there." As a tribute to Conroy, Brooke and her parents, Cindy Schmidt and Stephen Conroy, have formed the Ashley Soule Conroy Foundation to award scholarships to qualified students who are in financial need, so as to allow them to study abroad. By Barri Bronston East Jefferson bureau
		© 2006 The Ashley Soule Conroy Foundation. All rights reserved. The Ashley Soulé Conroy Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.