Father Receives Morgan Harrington's Posthumous Virginia Tech Degree In Her Honour; Video Available
May 15, 2011, 13 years ago
According to Chris Hurst at WDBJ7.com, Morgan Harrington received her diploma from Virginia Tech on May 14th. Her remains were found more than a year ago after she disappeared from a METALLICA concert in Charlottesville.
Her father accepted the degree in front of her classmates and their families.
Taking the walk meant for his daughter, Dan Harrington accepted Morgan's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. He says she wanted to be a teacher.
"She had worked in Roanoke with young kids for years even before she went to college,” he said. “I think she would have been a great teacher.”
The teacher that was most influential in Morgan's last year was Jane Vance.
“The class of 2011 [is] with me,” said Vance. “Friends, parents, every one of us here today [we are] here with you. And thousands upon thousands of others, we are Virginia Tech. We will prevail.”“It’s also important for this University community that has incurred a lot of loss to figure out, ‘How do you transcend,” said Morgan’s mother, Gil. “How do you triumph?”
“I think she would have been excited, just like the thousands of kids who are graduating today,” he said. “She would be finishing one and going forward with finding a job, hopefully finding a job, and getting on with her life.”
The Harrington’s said Saturday may mark the end of major developments for Morgan and her family. But Gil Harrington did say there is one more chapter and that is when Morgan’s killer is brought to trial.
The Virginia Tech student from Roanoke County, disappeared during a Metallica concert at John Paul Jones Arena on the University of Virginia's campus back in October of 2009. The statewide search for Morgan drew national attention. State Police eventually found her remains at a secluded farm in Albemarle County, outside Charlottesville.
Investigators believe Morgan was killed.
