A smiling Emily Houpt, one among four students wounded once a gunman opened hearth at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte last week, received her credential Saturday at a graduation ceremony.
Her fellow graduates stood and clapped as Houpt, a 23-year-old from Charlotte, was introduced on stage.
“Emily, we are so glad that you are here today to receive formal recognition of your hard work in international studies and your contributions to the campus community,” Joan Lorden, academic administrator and decision maker for academic affairs, said.
The Apr 30 shooting claimed the lives of scholars Reed Parlier and Riley Howell, who has been praised as a hero for confronting the gunman and saving lives.
Twenty-three members of Howell’s family came to the ceremony as the varsity recognized him with a bachelor of arts degree in memoriam.
Parlier also will receive a degree in memoriam, officers have aforementioned.
Besides Houpt, three different students were hurt. they’re Rami Al-Ramadhan, 20, of Saihat, Saudi Arabia; Sean DeHart, 20, of Apex, North Carolina; and drew Pescaro, 19, additionally of Apex.
University Chancellor Prince Philip L. Dubois declared Friday that two scholarships can created to honor Howell and Parlier.
“From today forward each scholarship will enable the spirit and legacy of each of these young men to be present always on our campus,” Dubois.
A couple who were “both at the start teachers” funded the scholarships with $1 million, Dubois said.