11
March
2016
|
13:31 PM
America/Chicago

Diploma Presented to Family of Sarah Root

Diploma Presented to Family of Sarah Root

Bellevue University was honored to present the family of Sarah Root with her diploma during a ceremony Thursday, March 10 in the Muller ASB Multipurpose Room.  Root was killed by a drunk driver one day after graduation on the morning of Sunday, January 31.

IMG_2255“The student population at Bellevue is first and foremost in our minds. We look forward to working with them over the course of their tenure here and also hoping for great futures,” said University President Mary Hawkins. “That her’s was cutoff has hit all of us. We speak from our hearts about the sadness we feel for your daughter.”

In attendance from the Root family were her father Scott, mother Michelle, brother Scott, and the younger Scott’s girlfriend, Cori Shaw.

Both Sarah and her brother were recipients of the American Dream Scholarship. Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree in Investigations, while Scott graduated from the University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Scott spoke on behalf of the family.

IMG_2274“I’d like to express our sincere gratitude to President Hawkins and the entire Bellevue University faculty and staff for presenting Sarah’s diploma to us in person. It means the world to our family and I know it would mean the world to Sarah,” he said. “Finishing her bachelor’s degree was something she talked about all the time. She was always trying to better herself.”

Crysta Lewis, One-Stop Counselor, presented the family with $208 raised by selling ribbons in Sarah’s honor.

LifeTouch Photography donated several framed photos of Sarah at the Commencement Ceremony to the family.

A silent auction, raffle, and spaghetti feed will be held Saturday, March 19 at the Mile-Away Hall in Council Bluffs, 20270 Old Lincoln Highway. The event will begin at 5 p.m., while the auction will conclude at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds of the event will go to the Root family to cover outstanding medical expenses.