Mia Lauren Reyna, a 2009 graduate of Lake Travis High School, wanted to write novels and inspire other teens to make positive choices.

She, along with her dreams, died in a two-car collision Saturday on RR12 north of Dripping Springs (see obituary, page 10A).
Reyna, 19, led and served at LTHS as a vice president and librarian for choir, president of the school’s Anime Club, manager of the Cavalette drill team and member of Teen Impact, a peer mentoring group that promotes academic success and personal growth. She loved to sing and write music and also starred in several school theater productions as Maria in “Guys & Dolls” and Chiffon in “Little Shop of Horrors.” She also relished drawing and animation.
She shone in the spotlight, but she sought a more personal audience through her writing.
“When I begin writing novels I plan to write them for a teenage audience, and I want to write about issues that are real and give a voice to not the average teenager but the teenager struggling to do the right thing, who said no to drugs and alcohol, who followed their dreams no matter what,” Reyna wrote in her scholarship application to the Lake Travis Education Foundation last year. “I want that teenager to read my books and know they aren’t alone, and to gain strength from my words and keep doing the right thing, and hopefully, make the world a better place.”
Her goals reflected a maturity and personal accountability beyond her years.
“I plan to keep pursuing music and art because I love them both and I don’t ever want to give up on any of my passions. I’ve set high standards for myself, but I know that if I keep believing and work hard, I’ll get to where I want to be,” she wrote. “I’ve promised myself that I’ll be a responsible adult and not let anything that could damage my chances and hinder my plans of graduating from college and becoming a writer get in the way.”
Before she got the chance to realize her goals, Saturday’s accident stole them from her.
The Texas State University freshman was driving north on a long stretch of road when her 1998 Eagle Talon veered into the northbound shoulder and then overcorrected, said Tela Mange, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson.
According to police reports, Reyna’s vehicle headed into the southbound lanes and skidded to the side before a BMW 750i driven by David Bret Baumann, 47, of Dripping Springs struck it.
She was pronounced dead at 2:10 p.m., and Baumann was transported to Seton Southwest Hospital with a minor head injury, Mange said.
Both drivers were wearing seatbelts, and no passengers were indicated on DPS reports.
News of Reyna’s death devastated those who helped give her a chance at higher education. She received the 2009 Women’s Club of Greater Lakeway Scholarship through LTEF.
“She’s a very special girl. We are very upset to hear of her loss,” Former LTEF president Jodi Gregg said. “We had such high hopes and expectations for her to have a really dramatic, positive impact on this community. We’re deeply saddened over the loss of such a wonderful young woman.”
Reyna exuded a powerful presence with few words.
“She was reserved and quiet, but was able to handle a group of 50 girls [on the Cavalettes],” Gregg recalled.
Jennifer Wright, who served on the LTEF scholarship committee that interviewed Reyna, said she was an exceptional student.
“She was a standout girl. She was very hard working and confident. She just blew us away,” Wright said of Reyna’s interview.
The teen’s drive extended beyond school academics and activities into volunteer work with Heart House Austin, Special Olympics basketball, Race for the Cure, Safeplace Austin, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, IBM 5K and H-E-B Feast of Sharing. She also found room in her schedule to work part-time at The Terrace Club.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Tony Reyna; great-grandfather, Clifton Ketchum; uncle, Nando Reyna; and cousin, Nathaniel Nyren.
Reyna is survived by her mother, Melissa L. Reyna; grandmothers, Donna Kay Sumrow and husband Butch and Deborah Reyna; great-grandparents, Bonnie Ketchum, Tony and Connie Reyna, Ruth Wiggins; aunt, Amber and her husband, Jason Bachman; niece, Uriana Bachman; great-aunts, Mary Nielson and husband Jamie, Carey Davis and husband Ken; Christina Reyna, Julie Nyren and husband Pete, Jana Reyna, Jean Jackson, Deborah Rios and husband Joe, Lenette Vick and husband Timmy; uncle Trey Sumrow; great-uncles, Michael and Randy Ketchum; cousins, Christy Jackson, Mandy and Amy Ketchum, Blake and Lauren Vick, Jordan Higginbotham, Hailey Sumrow, Roxanna and husband Alex Garza, Rocky and Bobbi-Lyn Garza, Philip Nielson, Robert and wife Elsa Alcala, David Alcala, Monica and husband Trey Neshyba, Natalie and Peter Nyren, Jessamy Senn and husband Lloyd, Nathaniel Senn, Theresa, Thoren, and Chris Tricomi Kevin Ketchum and wife Minnie, Matt Ketchum and wife Candice, Stormi and Raini Ketchum; her best friend, Carly Evensen; and her dog, Stormy Reyna.
Visitation will be at 6 p.m. today at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress, with recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Emmaus Catholic Church at 2 p.m. Friday with the Rev. Samuel Hose officiating.
Memorial contributions for Mia Reyna may be sent to Melissa Reyna, 2403 S. 2nd St., Austin, TX 78704.