The family of 17-year-old Emily Challen have paid tribute to a “beautiful and very talented daughter that we were so extremely proud of”.
Emily was from a loving family and she was extremely close to her younger siblings Harriet, 14, and James, 11.
Mum Jenny said: “Her love, passion and enthusiasm for life was infectious.
“She had an overwhelming love for family and friends and was more than a daughter; she was a best friend to me and her sister Harriet and the best big sister James could have had.”
The family described Emily as a perfectionist who excelled in everything that she did.
Jenny said: “She had the world at her feet.
“She worked hard at school and it was all paying off because she had got her university offers.”
She was a house captain at KGGS where she was studying art, business studies and English literature. She had just decided to accept an offer from Leeds University to study fashion marketing.
The family thanked KGGS for all the support over the last week.
Dad Keith Challen said: “The school was a big part of her life. She had been there seven years, was a house captain and it was a role she took seriously.”
The news of Emily’s death touched many people in the town and beyond. A Facebook tribute page was set up in her honour and more than 2,000 joined the page within a couple of days.
Messages of support included many wishing Emily a happy birthday - she would have been 18 on Tuesday, February 19.
Jenny said: “It’s lovely to think she was loved by so many people.”
Emily’s funeral will be held on Monday, March 4 at 1.30pm at St Swithun’s Church in Long Bennington. A brief service for family and friends will follow at Grantham Crematorium.
There will then be a celebration of Emily’s life at the Reindeer Inn, Long Bennington, later in the afternoon.
Police are seeking witnesses to the accident which took place at around 8.15am when a blue Vauxhall Corsa in which Emily and three other KGGS students were travelling, collided with a Scania lorry.
The 18-year-old driver of the Corsa suffered a broken wrist in the crash. The other two passengers were not seriously hurt.
Witnesses are asked to call Lincolnshire Police on 01522 558855.
Lincolnshire Police has also asked that family and friends do not attempt to lay flowers or other expressions of sympathy at the crash site due to concerns for road safety.