Twenty-year-old Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, a West Virginia National Guard member who was killed \u00a0in Wednesday’s Washington, D.C., shooting, was remembered Friday by devastated colleagues at Seneca Health Services, a behavioral-health agency based in West Virginia, where she worked prior to her deployment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“She had a passion for serving people,” Marcie Vaughan, CEO of Seneca Health Services, told CBS News. “Her decision to join the National Guard and to become a member of the behavioral health profession \u2026 that requires a person to have compassion. The fact she volunteered shows courage and dedication.”<\/p>\n
Beckstrom worked for Seneca as a community engagement specialist from January until she voluntarily deployed to D.C. around August. <\/p>\n
Her job focused on supporting clients at risk of psychiatric hospitalization, helping them remain stable and connected to care. <\/p>\n
“She worked with individuals who had behavioral health issues\u2026She would establish meaningful relationships and find what they needed to stay in the community,” Vaughan said.<\/p>\n
Coworkers described Beckstrom as energetic, funny, and quick to laugh. <\/p>\n
“Her coworkers would tell you she had a great sense of humor,” Vaughan recalled. “She loved being part of the community. She would frequently go to events, engage others, and share resources that might positively impact their lives.”<\/p>\n