Ideas to honor student at graduation who passed away

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2009

Are the parents going to attend?

I would have a simple moment of silence for her.

Ferwhat · Sep 27, 2009

Yes the parents and her children are going to attend. Her lantern and pin will be presented to her mother.

Coriander, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2009

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss... how unbelievably sad. I think that the moment of silence, as well as the pin presentation, will be an emotional time for you all.

rn-jane · Sep 27, 2009

I think the roses are nice but maybe a big bouquet instead given to her mom with the pin and lantern. I think the moment of silence is nice maybe with a class mate that was close to her saying something about her. It would be nice if a scholarship fund was set up by the school but that's asking alot but it's an idea.

rbrandnew · Sep 27, 2009

In addition to the suggestions above, I would have as many students speak on what she meant to them and about her accomplishments. Doing so give her parents and children an additional glimpse of her life and contributions.

kittykatty · Sep 27, 2009

I think the roses are a great idea--1 white rose from each student--placed ceremonially beside the lanyard and pin. My class did a compilation CD of all of the photos that we took of each other during class and during clinicals--we did it as a presentation in the school theater on a wide screen and then each of us got a CD copy of the slide show. 2 of my classmates-- a guy and a gal sang-- "I believe I can fly" during the presentation. It was beautiful and I thought almost professionally done.

I am sure your late classmate is in photos that you guys took during your school time together. Including photos of her in a school slide show and an appropriate song and ending would be so nice for her family. You could really make the moment so special for them--and you will remember it for the rest of your life. Get a committee together and start throwing out ideas--make it personal to who this girl was to you guys. Just an idea.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 28, 2009

I think these are wonderful ideas, especially photos of her and stuff.

csnba9 · Sep 28, 2009

Our class had a fellow student suddenly pass away. We had a chair for her at graduation and as each one of us walked by, we placed a flower. Our administrator started her speech by telling who the chair was for followed by a moment of silence. We also did a DVD of photos taken of various students over the entire program and the ending picture was dedicated to this student.

Work in Progress · Oct 3, 2009

I didn't have this happen in nursing school, but in high school one of our classmates died in a car accident. We each placed a yellow rose on a chair reserved for her (yellow was her favorite color) and then two of her friends sang a song in her memory. I am sorry that this happened.

cmonkey · Oct 3, 2009

I think starting a fund to help pay for books for parents in school would be a nice thought. If everyone in the class kicked in $20, and it went into a scholarship account, someone could have a book or two paid for every year. Make having kids a prereq, or something similar, so the kids have something attached to it, as well as the mom they lost. I don't know what the hassle factor is, but I bet a student association could handle it.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Oct 3, 2009

a girl at my nursing school in the course ahead of me was murdered during the program, it was absolutely awful. at graduation, they saved her a chair and presented her mother with her lamp, pin and diploma. they also did a slide show with lots of photos of her and gave a copy to her family.

our class tried to start a memorial scholarship fund in her memory. we raised a bunch of money and presented an award to a student in the class behind us. unfortunately, they did not keep up the tradition and the school did not want to pick up the funding for it.