Penn State graduate Jeremy Herbstritt, 27, of Bellefonte, is among the 33 killed in Monday's shooting at Virginia Tech, Penn State officials confirmed yesterday.

He was doing graduate work in civil engineering at the university. Those close to Herbstritt described him as a bright student, dedicated friend and committed athlete. He leaves behind three siblings, two of whom attend Penn State.

"The first things that pops into your head is a person that always smiles," Peggy Johnson, head of Penn State's civil engineering department, said. "He was just always so happy."

She taught Herbstritt in a hydraulic engineering class and wrote his recommendation letter for entrance into the Virginia Tech graduate program. She remembers him being very excited about attending the school.

Neighbor and family friend Vickie Ackerman said Herbstritt was an outgoing, driven young man who was looking forward to attending Virginia Tech and "starting a new chapter in his life."

At Penn State, Herbstritt was an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and received the Dean Meyers Memorial Scholarship in Civil Engineering in 2005. He graduated with honors last year with degrees in civil and environmental engineering as well as biochemistry and molecular biology, according to a statement from the department of civil engineering.

A 1998 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School, Herbstritt was "full of integrity," his former calculus teacher and cross-country coach, Mark Feldman, said.

"It's an absolutely senseless loss of an outstanding person," he said. "I always remember Jeremy being committed to whatever we were doing. He was very intelligent and was probably one of the most genuine and sincere people that I've ever worked with."

Jared Daubert (junior-animal sciences) said Herbstritt, his 4-H camp counselor for several years, was a great person who was easy to get along with.

"He was very down to earth, very willing to go out of his way for anybody ... just a great all-around person," Daubert said.

Herbstritt's father, Michael Herbstritt, has worked at Penn State for 20 years and currently serves as an engineer for the Office of the Physical Plant (OPP). OPP spokesman Paul Ruskin said the department is working with the United Way to create a memorial fund in Herbstritt's name.

"The [OPP] is a tight-knit group, and we're all very sensitive to the situation," he said.

Carolyn Dolbin, administrative assistant to Penn State President Graham Spanier, said Spanier has been in contact with Herbstritt's father.

"They know that the university community is standing ready to help them in any way in the weeks ahead," she said.

When Ackerman had spoken with Herbstritt's mother on Monday, she had not yet heard from her son.

"They hadn't been able to get a hold of him. They found out late [Monday] night," she said.

Penn State spokesman Geoff Rushton said both of Herbstritt's parents were in Boston at the time of the shooting, watching their daughter compete in the Boston Marathon. They have since traveled to Blacksburg, he said

Neighbors were notified early yesterday morning of his passing, Ackerman said. At 6 p.m. last night, two police cars blocked the driveway entrance to the Herbstritt household.

--Collegian staff writer Rossilynne Skena contributed to this report.