Las Lomas Begins To Mourn Two Students

When students return to school Tuesday after the holiday weekend, they will be grieving the loss of two classmates, Matt Miller and Gavin Powell, who died in what authorities say was a rafting accident in Walnut Creek. 

Las Lomas High principal Matt Campbell is expected to address students Tuesday morning, and students are organizing a candlelight vigil Wednesday evening to celebrate the lives of the two juniors. 

"In light of the tragic news, the Las Lomas community is deeply saddened by the loss of two of our students," Campbell said Sunday evening. "Gavin and Matt were well respected by staff members and peers and will be greatly missed."

He added that Las Lomas will offer counseling services to students. "We offer our condolences to the families and friends who are dealing with this extremely difficult time in their lives," Campbell said. 

The candlelight vigil is set to take place 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Sutherland Drive entrance to the Shell Ridge Open Space. "Bring candles, warm clothing and memories," says the Facebook page announcing the event. "Let's come together and show how much we love them."

Scores of Las Lomas High students helped search for Matt and Gavin Sunday morning, according to a Las Lomas High parent whose daughter was good friends with Gavin.

Parents of both boys reported them missing after midnight Saturday, after learning from the boys' friends that the two had decided to go rafting Saturday afternoon.

The boys had set out at about 2 p.m. Saturday in a two-person raft near runs along South Broadway, north past Safeway, behind Civic Park and past .  The waterway continues north through central Contra Costa county and empties into Suisun Bay. 

The boys' bodies were found Sunday about a mile apart, in areas along the waterway in Concord. Their raft was found Sunday morning along the creek near Bancroft Road and Bentley Street. 

The boys, good friends, set out on a rainy, stormy afternoon when, authorities say, the waters of the creek were moving fast. 

Authorities launched a search first thing Sunday morning. 

Julie Miller, Matthew's mother, told the Contra Costa Times that her son was a good student with various interests. She told the Times that Matthew played piano and harpsichord and was a talented artist. He also went to Nicaragua this past summer to teach computer skills to residents in a small community there.

"He was just a nice, great person who was nice to everyone," Julie Miller said.

Gavin's family declined to comment. In his Facebook page, Gavin described himself as a Buddhist and Taoist who was interested in Asian culture. The father of one of Gavin's Las Lomas's friends said that Gavin had built a meditation spot in his back yard and rode his bike to San Diego at the age of 15. 

"He was one cool guy who didn't follow the crowd," the father said. "I lost a good friend back from high school. I have no answer why some of the best die young."

Students have set up another Facebook page to share memories of times they spent with either boy. One boy fondly remembers going sailing with Matt,  another student called him the best "freaking artist" in school who gave the best critiques in art class. Matt was also known for liking to discuss politics and philosophy and for swimming "like an Olympian." 

Another student said she didn't know either Matt or Gavin, only as people she passed in the hall. But she said their "deaths have affected my view on life. I am so sad it had to take this tragedy for me to realize how precious life is. I will forever be thankful to you both and hope heaven is as wonderful as anyone could imagine."