Shawn Kuhn, 21, a senior majoring in exercise and sports science at the University of Georgia (UGA), died Oct. 11 from COVID complications, despite being fully vaccinated.

For the past six weeks, Kuhn had been in and out of three different hospitals, was placed in a medically induced coma and was put on a ventilator, his father said in a social media post on Oct. 10.

According to his obituary, which described him as an avid UGA Bulldog fan with a passion for serving others, Kuhn played on his high school’s soccer team and was a member of the school’s cross-country team.

At UGA, he was working toward a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science, and worked as a certified personal trainer at UGA’s Ramsey Student Center. He was a competitive fisherman who also enjoyed hiking.

“Shawn was one the most caring, helpful and fun [people] I’ve known and met at UGA,” said Libby Buchanan, a UGA alum and Kuhn’s friend. “Since that day in 2018, Shawn and me have kept being friends. Anytime you were around Shawn, you couldn’t help but smile and laugh. He never spoke bad about anyone and only encouraged you to be the best.”