A week from today, the members of the Tyrone Area High School Class of 2015 will walk across the stage at graduation.  One special member of the class of 2015 will not be there in person, but will be fondly remembered by many in spirit.

Amber Dougherty tragically passed away in 2010 during her eighth grade year due to complications from epilepsy, a disease that effects the nervous system.

Amber’s passing was a great loss to her family, friends and the entire Tyrone Area School District community. Many of her classmates still hold fond memories of her and plan to remember her on graduation day.

Fellow senior Naomi Walk was one of Amber’s closest friends.

“I wish more than anything that she could be walking across the stage with us,” said Walk, “but I know she’s always with us.”

“Amber was always happy and loved everybody, even at the hospital she had a smile. I miss her,” said fellow senior Shaye Loose.

“No matter how she was feeling she always had a smile on her face and wanted others to be just as happy,” said Walk.

“Amber was one of my best friends in elementary school. She was such a sweet girl and I’m so glad I got to know her,” said fellow senior Samantha Aungst.

The school and the members of the class of 2015 will be pay tribute to Amber in several ways during senior events and the graduation celebration:

• Amber will have a full page remembrance in the high school yearbook.
• A moment of silence for Amber, and a remembrance slide in the senior slideshow, will occur during Senior Excellence Night on June 2.
• She will be remembered at the Baccalaureate Service on May 31 at 2:00 pm at Grace Baptist Church and Amber’s classmates will have the option of wearing purple ribbons in her memory for both Senior Excellence Night and Commencement Exercises on June 4.
• Amber’s family will be presented with an honorary diploma and tassel along with four tickets to commencement.

“I’m glad we are doing something in remembrance of Amber,” said close friend and senior Amber Chamberlin, “she was a good friend and she deserves to be remembered. Just because she isn’t physically here, doesn’t mean that she isn’t here.”

Amber’s mom, April Sharer,  is also pleased that her daughter will be recognized and plans to be there for graduation to remember her daughter and see her friends and classmates walk across the stage as Tyrone High School graduates.

“I just wanted her to be recognized as [a member] of her class…I am so happy that so many care about Amber and loved her…I want to thank all of her friends, teachers, and the administration for recognizing her,” said Sharer.