It is with great sadness that we share that Sierra Shuck-Sparer passed away on March 27, 2024 at the age of 20. Sierra was a valued member of the University Club Swim team and the West High School Swim and Dive Team. In 2020 and 2021, Sierra was the recipient of GKAISA’s James Rich Courage Award.

In October 2018, Sierra was diagnosed with a life-threatening form of brain cancer. She endured multiple surgeries and many rounds of radiation and chemotherapy at St. Jude. Throughout her incredible and inspiring fight against cancer, Sierra managed to not only stay positive, but to also excel academically and to remain an active member of her swim teams. Upon approval from her doctors after completing treatment, Sierra immediately returned to the pool, both swimming and assisting her coaches when she could.

Sierra graduated with honors from West High School and attended Georgia Tech for 3 years until her cancer made it impossible to continue. During the last several months, she wrote and published Lady Sunflower: Stories, Songs, and Poems from the Desk of Kill.Gertrude, which is currently #1 on Amazon’s best-seller list for Young Adult and Teen books. Sierra lived her life with grace, wit, and courage, and accomplished more in her young life than most people can ever accomplish.

Sierra is survived by her parents, Tim Sparer and Cathy Shuck, and her brother, Aidan Shuck-Sparer, and a host of family and friends who were like family.