Alexandra Kogut: Thousands gather at SUNY Brockport campus vigil to remember slain NY college student

(CBS) BROCKPORT, N.Y. - Thousands of SUNY Brockport students gathered at a vigil Monday night for 18-year-old Alexandra Kogut, who was found beaten to death in her dorm room just days before, CBS affiliate WIVB reports.

Pictures: NY college student found dead inside her dorm room

"It's sad," said junior Amelia Zaengle. "Our teachers talked about it in some of my classes, and we had a silence."

Over three thousand people gathered on the SUNY Brockport campus to remember Kogut, who started her freshman year this fall.

"This was just an extraordinary young woman, passionate about swimming, about her Communications major, her kindness, her warm, caring nature," said John Halstead, university president.

Kogut's body was discovered by campus police after her mother phoned them to check on her welfare.

Police said 21-year-old boyfriend Clayton Whittemore admitted to killing Kogut after he was picked up by state troopers early Saturday morning near Syracuse. Despite his admission to state troopers, Whittemore pleaded not guilty to a murder charge Saturday.

Kogut's funeral will take place in her hometown of New Hartford on Thursday.

Complete coverage of Alexandra Kogut on Crimesider