In Memoriam: Nicole Killigrew

Nicole Killigrew (’17, animal science), who traveled to Thailand one summer as a Cal Poly Pomona student to work with elephants and other animals, died June 14 after battling cancer.

She was 29.

A native of Foster City, Calif., Killigrew was interested in animals from a very young age. She was the kindergartner who took the classroom rabbit home and a middle schooler who volunteered with the Humane Society, according to an obituary her family prepared.

She graduated from Aragon High School in San Mateo and came to Cal Poly Pomona to study animal science.

Killigrew spent the summer of 2015 in Thailand with a small team from Loop Abroad, a Boston-based program that gives high school and college students a chance to explore global issues and possible careers in conservation.

“My sister studied abroad for a semester and loved it,” Killigrew said after she returned. “So, I did some research on study-abroad programs for pre-vet students and came across Loop. I had never been to Southeast Asia, so I thought Thailand would be perfect. That is where Loop operates from, so it just seemed right.”

Killigrew gained hands-on experience, learning different ways of practicing veterinary medicine from the veterinarian assigned to her group and the Thai veterinarians and vet techs.

She spent a week giving volunteer care at a dog shelter in Chiang Mai, providing checkups and cleanings, treating ear and eye problems, taking and testing blood samples, administering vaccines, cleaning and treating wounds and helping with sterilization surgeries.

The team then spent one week at the Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand to work with the animals and learn about animal rescue and conservation. The park is home to more than 60 elephants who have been rescued from trekking, logging or forced breeding programs.

They also cared for rabbits, water buffalo, and other animals that called the park home.

Killigrew and two of her teammates chose to stay on for another two weeks at the elephant park after their team had completed its stay.

The trip cemented her desire to work in veterinary medicine.

“It may not be easy, but I believe I can do it,” she said. “I have a passion for animal healthcare, and I want to pursue it more than ever now.”

In addition to her work in animal science, Killigrew was a member of the Cal Poly Pomona Bronco women’s soccer team in 2012 and 2013.

A visitation and Mass were held on June 20.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Nicole Killigrew’s memory to Hope Lodge New York and the San Francisco SPCA.