A Mother Walks the Graduation Stage in Memory of Her Son

Parents eagerly wait for the day they can attend their children's high school graduations, but for one mother, the occasion was bittersweet. Katherine Jackson wore her son's cap and gown and received his diploma from Thornton Fractional High School on Wednesday four days after his sudden death on prom night. "I couldn't have asked for a better partner in life," Katherine said. "That was my son."

Aaron K. Dunigan was heading home from prom with two friends on Saturday night when their car crashed into another vehicle, killing both the driver of the other car and 18-year-old Aaron. The star quarterback had recently won an award during his final football season and was also preparing to play college ball at Southern Illinois University. To honor his memory and achievements, an emotional Katherine walked across the stage to accept Aaron's diploma and said, "Everybody loves my baby. He was the most awesome kid and the best gift a mother could ever have."