JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The parents of four students who were victims of tragedy and would have graduated from Ed White High School on Tuesday night accepted diplomas on their behalf.
Tiphne Hollis' mother accepted her diploma at the ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Arena.
"I'd rather for my baby be here to do it," Hollis' mother, Shanda Whitaker, said. "It's a hurting situation, but I know this is what Tiphne would want me to do."
Last week, Whitaker awarded one Ed White senior a $1,000 scholarship over the next four years in her daughter's honor.
Hollis was 16 years old when she was shot in killed in a car in March 2010. Her killing is still unsolved.
Also at the graduation, the parents of three students who died in an Interstate 295 rollover crash accepted their diplomas.
Kimber Krebs, Erin Hurst and John Kiely were all freshmen when they were killed three years ago Tuesday on the last day of school.
Dennis Stout also died in the crash.
Brandon Hodges was driving the SUV when a tire blew.