HOLMEN, Wis (WEAU)- The community is coping with the loss of a middle school teacher, who was also a star athlete at a local university.

Ashton May’s car hit a semi over the weekend.

The 25-year-old died in the wreck near Adams, Minnesota which is southwest of Rochester.

May won 10-division III All-America awards in track and field at UW-La Crosse and was an assistant coach there.

May had just started her career at Holmen Middle School when the crash happened.

“The news is devastating to be so young and be in a tragic accident,” said Raphie Freismuth.

Freismuth has a daughter and niece that both knew May. Freismuth’s niece that goes to Holmen Middle School and May helped coach her daughter in volleyball. She says her daughter had nothing but good things to say about May, and described her as nice, helpful, and beautiful.

“This has been a tough couple of days for students, staff and school community,” said School District Administrator Dale Carlson.

At the school the kids are leaning on each other for support.

“My niece and her friends got together that night to mourn. It just helped having that time to gather and talk about it,” said Freismuth.

May was a brand new teacher at Holmen Middle School. She had only been working there 2 weeks before the accident. She was an 8th grad Math and Social Studies teacher at the middle school. But May was a familiar face in the area since she did her student teaching at May Prairie View Elementary in the school district as well.

The school has yet to schedule a ceremony in memory of May. Right now School District Administrator Carlson says they are just focusing on addressing the needs of the students and staff.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------HOLMEN, Wis. (AP) -- Students and staff at Holmen Middle School are shaken by the loss of an educator who was living her dream to teach.

Friends say 25-year-old Ashton Debra May was a dedicated educator and athlete. May was killed over the weekend when her car struck a semi near Adams, Minn.

Holmen Middle School Principal Ryan Vogler says May was one of the first people in the door in the morning and one of the last to leave. Vogler says May had an outspoken loyalty to her students.

May won 10 NCAA Division III All-America awards as a track and field athlete at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. After graduating, she served as an assistant coach for the university.

The La Crosse Tribune says support staff is at the school to help students cope.