FORT MITCHELL, Ky. — Among the more than 150 people killed in a stampede during a Halloween festival in Seoul, South Korea was Anne Gieske, a University of Kentucky student from northern Kentucky whose bright future was tragically cut short. 

Spectrum News 1 spoke with one of the mentor figures who helped mold that future in Gieske’s hometown of Fort Mitchell. Even after Gieske walked out of the Beechwood High School doors for the last time as a student after graduating in 2020, she continued to make an impact at the school.

Gieske, the former drum major in charge of conducting the marching band, came back to help the program this past summer. Band Director Austin Bralley said he was elated to see her. The two were close.

“Anne’s freshman year was my first year as band director, so I met her on my very first day on the job here. She was an extremely talented student. But beyond that she was an even better person. Just the sweetest girl you could imagine. Just so nice and humble,” Bralley said. “You just get to know them. They’re like your kids. So it’s very tough. The last 24 hours have been difficult.”

Despite her many accolades in music, Gieske chose to go into nursing, and was accepted into the nursing program at the University of Kentucky.

“She wanted to help people. That was her aspiration in life was to help people, and make them comfortable,” Bralley said.

Dr. Janie Heath, Dean of Nursing at UK, never got the chance to meet Gieske, but was impressed by her credentials.

“She’s exactly the kind of nursing student that we look for,” Heath said. “You see someone who has the most exquisite academic record. I mean, top block academic record, on top of all the extracurricular engagement she had at the university, working with service organizations, student organizations. She was going to be someone very, very special.”

Before starting her nursing program in the spring of 2023, Gieske was looking for more opportunities for credits. After talking to academic advisors about study abroad opportunities, she settled on South Korea.

Bralley said she had a love for Korean culture, history, art and music.

“She had told me this summer before she left. She was like, ‘yeah, I’m excited about the trip,’” he said.

Gieske was documenting the trip on her Instagram page, before it was tragically cut short. When 100,000 people came together during a popular Halloween gathering in Seoul, more than 150 were killed during a stampede. Of those 150, Gieske was one of two Americans.

“You know, every life is precious, but when you lose someone like that, you just ask yourself, why?”  Bralley said. 

Bralley said the Beechwood staff met with students Sunday night and Monday morning, offering as much counseling service as they can provide, and as much time as students need to recover.

Bralley said there are many students in the band program who remained close with Gieske.

UK has two other students and a faculty member in South Korea this semester as well. They have been contacted and are safe, according to the university. 

In a statement, UK President Eli Capilouto said, in part: “There aren’t adequate or appropriate words to describe the pain of a beautiful life cut short. It isn’t fair, nor is it comprehensible. It is loss, and it hurts in ways that are impossible to articulate.

Gieske was active in the Catholic Church, and involved in her community.

Her parents, Dan and Madonna Gieske, released the following statement:

“We are completely devastated and heartbroken over the loss of Anne Marie. She was a bright light, loved by all. We ask for your prayers but also the respect of our privacy. Anne’s final gift to us was dying in the state of sanctifying grace. We know we will one day be reunited with her in God’s kingdom.”

Gieske was clearly loved at Beechwood High School, evidenced by the melancholy tone in which staff members spoke Monday.

Bralley said she always will be.

“I’ll always remember her. She was one of the brightest that I’ve ever had, anyway. So I’d always remembered her as one of the very top students of my career. Now, obviously it’s gonna be a tough memory,” he said. “She’s loved, and she impacted so many people. And her legacy will live on through the lives she touched.”

Gieske was also the niece of U.S. Congressman Brad Wenstrup of Ohio.

He released the following statement:

“Monica and I, and our entire family, are grieving the loss of our niece, Anne Marie Gieske. She was a gift from God to our family. We loved her so much.”

Fort Mitchell Mayor Jude Hehman and the Fort Mitchell City Council also released a statement:

“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the Gieske and Klein families, who both have very deep roots in our Fort Mitchell Community.”