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The mother of a deceased teen from Chicago accepted his diploma during an emotional graduation ceremony this week after he was killed in a devastating car crash.

Katherine Jackson walked with hundreds of students at Thornton Fractional North High School on Wednesday after her son, Aaron Dunigan, died in a car accident during his prom over the weekend.

Dunigan, an 18-year-old star athlete, was riding in the vehicle with a friend when they crossed a median and crashed into another car. The driver, David Peden, was allegedly under the influence of marijuana when the accident occurred. Dunigan was on track to graduate and attend Southern Illinois University to play football.

With her son’s cap and gown, Jackson walked across the stage at the graduation ceremony to honor her son.

According to the NY Daily News:

“I’m going to be his legs and he’s going to be my wings, and we’re going to go up there and get our diploma,” devastated mom Katherine Jackson told reporters during an emotional commencement ceremony.”

Jackson says the moment was for her son and herself. As she hugged his friends and fellow students, she realized her actions were for them as well.

“My son has left a piece of him inside all of them,” she said. “Every time I hug one of them, I get a little piece of my baby back.”

Jackson wasn’t the only parent honoring her son during graduation season.

See the video above to find out about Kinyda Broadway, a mother from Shreveport, LA, who accepted her son KeAndre’s sixth grade certificate after he was killed by a stray bullet earlier this year.

SOURCE: NY Daily News | VIDEO CREDIT: NDN 

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