• Camille Doty •
• Originally published May 14, 2011 at 10:57 p.m., updated May 15, 2011 at 4:45 p.m.

• How has college prepared you for your future?

  "Going to college has made me the person I am today. I can now call myself a medical lab tech."

  Maria Lara, 23, of Ganado, formerly of Guanajuato, Mexico, ...

• SHOW ALL »

How has college prepared you for your future?

"Going to college has made me the person I am today. I can now call myself a medical lab tech."

Maria Lara, 23, of Ganado, formerly of Guanajuato, Mexico, Associates of Applied Science in Medical Lab Technology

"With my being a preacher, it has instilled in me better writing skills. Overall it's just helped me go farther."

Johnny Davenport, 58, of Victoria, Associates of Business Administration

"It prepared me quite a bit. It prepared me for the job. Being able to walk today gives me closure."

Paul Tristan, 25, of Victoria, Associates in Applied Science

Albert and Belinda Diaz were proud parents at the Victoria College commencement ceremony on Saturday.

But instead of watching their daughter walk across the stage to receive her diploma, they accepted it in her memory.

Their daughter Megan N. Diaz, 20, of Ganado, died April 29 of cancer.

They embraced and fought back tears as they walked across the stage to receive the associates degree in her honor.

"It's an honor that the school would think that much of her," her father said. He also added that one of his daughter's goals was to pursue a degree in business.

Mark Henry, her professor, said that she was well on her way to succeed. Henry never met his eager student in-person because Diaz took the Principles of Accounting I course online. He could tell from her emails she took an interest in class.

"She was someone who stood out. She had ambition and was focused on her future," he said.

But her dream to earn a business degree was never realized.

"It's been a long, tough year," her mother said.

Megan, the family's middle daughter, was diagnosed in June. Megan's age worked for and against her, her mother said. She was youthful, but still growing, and consequently, the cancer grew with her.

Even with chemotherapy, Megan never slowed down in school or in life, said Missy Klimitchek, college registrar. She had known the all-star student for five years because she once worked at the Ganado school district.

"In the middle of chemo, she still tried to take all her classes. And her mom wanted her to relax. Megan just wouldn't do it," said Klimitchek. She remembers Diaz's smile visually and personally as a servant.

She said the honorary-graduate would have helped anyone who needed it.

The former cancer patient used her condition as a platform to help others avoid the same fate. She spoke at several high schools, including Palacios and Ganado. She was scheduled to return to Palacios in October to emphasize the importance of self-breast examinations because that was how she discovered her illness.

Megan's mother said Megan donated blood for research, hoping someone would find a cure.

Megan played sports. Fellow baseball athletes recently wore pink shoelaces in her honor.

"She always had a smile. Everyone remembers that beautiful smile," her father said.

His wife agreed, adding that even as a child in trouble, Megan would glow.

"It was hard to be serious trying to discipline her."

The Diaz family and friends, including her 16-month-old goddaughter Annabella Ramirez, along with the 341 graduates, faculty and staff had a chance to see Megan's pearly-white smile at the commencement. The school showed a large photograph of her wearing her cap and gown and of course, grinning from ear-to-ear.

Graduation day was bitter-sweet for the Diaz family. But her father said his daughter will not be forgotten, "Talking about her gives me joy because that means she lives on."

Her mother agreed, adding Megan's life was short-lived, "But it was a great 20 years."

• Print
• •
• Share
  • Share this item

    Send this to a friend

    Share on FaceBook

  • Grab the link

    Copy and paste the link:

  • Blog about it

    Blog about this page.

  • Close
• •
• 5 Comments
• •
• Favorite
• •
• Report error
  • Thank you for your submission.
    Error report or correction

    Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  

    
  • Close
• •