NIU shooting victims to get posthumous degrees

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Northern Illinois University plans to honor the five students killed in a campus shooting this year when the university holds its commencement ceremony on Saturday.

NIU will present posthumous degrees to the families of three of the victims — Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia and Julianna Gehant.

Ryanne Mace and Dan Parmenter also were killed on Valentine’s Day when a gunman opened fire on their classroom. The university says their families will receive the honor at a later date.

University officials say they’ll also hold a moment of silence at the start of the ceremony to mark the shootings