Tabor College students Christopher Castillo and Johnethon Aviles were tragically killed in a Sunday, Feb. 27 car accident approximately six miles south of campus. They were passengers in a car driven by former student Jonathan Medina, who suffered spinal cord injuries and will soon begin rehabilitation.
The news sent shockwaves across campus, seeing two of its “brothers,” classmates, peers, and students “gone far too soon.”
Memorial displays have been made for Aviles and Castillo on campus, allowing Tabor students, faculty, and staff to pray, mourn and reflect in the wake of the accident.
Aviles and Castillo were both members of the Tabor football team. They arrived on campus in August 2020, finding a home both on and off the field. Castillo, a criminal justice major, was set to graduate in May 2022, while Aviles was studying agri-business in preparation for finishing in May 2023.
Tabor has also begun work to award posthumous degrees for both students.
Chris Williams, assistant professor of criminal justice, said he often felt like Castillo was walking in his shoes. Williams (g’06) also came to Tabor as a junior-college transfer and played multiple defensive positions under Head Coach Mike Gardner. They also connected with growing up in law enforcement families.
Once the shy, nervous student, Castillo was no longer the “quiet, young man sitting on the sideline.”
“He would also encourage his classmates/teammates to laugh at their mistakes and how mistakes help us learn,” Williams said. “He never hesitated to help someone feel comfortable. With Chris, just being in his presence made you feel at ease. He carried positive energy with him, and you could feel it whenever he was around.”
Aviles was one of three agri-business majors on campus. Having worked in construction and agriculture at home, he showed an attention to detail that he wanted to take to the football field and his future career. He had dreams of one day becoming a small business owner, according to his adviser, Dr. Melinda Rangel.
“He had a great plan and was working to make that plan a reality,” said Rangel, associate professor of business administration. “Johnny is missed greatly. The empty seat in our business classes is a grim reminder of a friend, teammate, student, and all-around great person that is gone too soon.”
It carried over to the football field for Castillo and Aviles.
“Both of these guys meant so much to our team,” Gardner said. “They are two of the most unselfish players I’ve ever had. They played their roles very, very well. I could ask either one of them to do anything on any week, and they were more than happy to do that. They are going to be greatly missed.”