El Paso Community College's Touching Tribute During Graduation

Graduations have been happening almost daily in the borderland as students are finishing up their degrees and celebrating with their loved ones. One of those schools that had graduation over the weekend was El Paso Community College. The college held its commencement ceremonies for 2020 and 2021 graduates on Friday at the Don Haskins Center at UTEP. As the ceremonies got closer to starting, the school began posting plenty of photos of the excited graduates preparing to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas. But there was one photo that EPCC posted that day that made a silent but meaningful impact on people.

At the graduation ceremony, El Paso Community College decorated a seat with a graduation robe, hat, and a graduation cord. There was also a white rose and a sign that explained the meaning behind the seat:

"This empty chair is in memory of those who are unable to celebrate this special day with us."

The special tribute was a small but powerful way for the school to acknowledge how much loss the city has experienced in the past few years. Graduates and their family members were able to see the touching way the school was honoring people who are now gone and letting others know that their memories would stay with us forever.