Senior Adam Nimaga passed away on Oct. 31, per an email from Dean of Students G.L. Black. Members of the Vanderbilt community expressed that Nimaga was hard working, passionate and resilient.
Nimaga was a student in Peabody College studying human and organizational development. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, he was immersed in academic and campus life and studied abroad in Barcelona during the Spring 2024 semester.
He had a passion for basketball and most recently served as vice president of the club basketball team. He was a member of the former Sigma Chi chapter, as well as Product Space, Phi Chi Theta and the Commodore Capital Group. According to his mother, Mary Catherine Nimaga, Adam Nimaga enjoyed quality time with friends and was active in a YMCA camp in Virginia.
“Adam loved nothing more than spending time with his friends and playing basketball. He also enjoyed skiing,” Mary Catherine Nimaga said in an email to The Hustler. “Adam always made friends everywhere he went. Growing up, he enjoyed spending time at YMCA Camp Silver Beach on the eastern shore of Virginia. He went there for many years and was nominated honor camper and also attained the status of rainbow camper.”
Nimaga aspired to a career in finance. According to his mother, Nimaga completed various internships, including at 3Chopt Investment Partners and Cary Street Partners in Richmond, Virginia, and at Cain Brothers in San Francisco.
Senior Will White described meeting Nimaga during their first year on campus and immediately forming a strong friendship bond.
“I remember standing in line at a social event, looking back, and spotting his iconic flat top rising above the crowd,” White said in a message to The Hustler. “I just knew I had to talk to him. Little did I know, that moment would spark a deep and lasting friendship.”
Alongside his professional background and hobbies, White explained Nimaga’s strongest desire as being compassionate to all friends and students.
“Adam had a way of making people feel seen and valued, and his heart was always open to anyone who needed it,” White said. “If he were here now, he would look at us with that unbreakable spirit of his and say, as he often reminded me, ‘Don’t shut up and dribble.’ Those words capture everything he stood for — the passion, the resilience, the fight for something bigger than himself.”
Nimaga is remembered by his friends for his laugh and desire to make the world a better place.
“When thinking about Adam, two things immediately come to mind: his infectious, boisterous laugh that could light up any room and his inspiring vision for a better world,” White said. “Some of my fondest memories with Adam are of us sitting together, imagining all the ways we could change the world. Let that be the legacy we remember: Adam, a true fighter who never would want us to give up on making the world a better place.”
Editor’s Note: Experiencing grief when one loses a member of our community is a normal response to a very sad and difficult situation. The Student Care Network suggests that you ask for help from your friends and family and use Vanderbilt’s resources to develop skills to help you process and grieve. If you are struggling with mental health, you can reach the University Counseling Center at (615) 322-2571 or their Crisis Text Line by texting VANDY to 741741. If you have a friend that needs support, complete a student of concern report to help them get connected.
