CSU Fullerton Awards Posthumous Degree To Maribel Ramos
FULLERTON (CBSLA.com) — A bachelor's degree for a war veteran murdered earlier this month was given to her family in a graduation ceremony at Cal State Fullerton on Sunday.
About 40 of Ramos' family members attended the 9:30 a.m. commencement. Ramos' 14-year-old niece accepted her criminal justice degree on her behalf.
"We're very saddened by the tragedy of her death. But what we're going to try to do today is really focus on celebrating her academic accomplishments as a Titan. She finished all of her degree requirements and she earned her degree in criminal justice in the College of HSS [Humanities and Social Sciences] and we are really proud of her accomplishment," Commencement Operations Manager Paul Miller said.
Cal State Fullerton President Mildred Garcia started off the commencement with kind words for the slain criminal justice major.
Ramos, a former U.S. Army Sergeant, went missing from her Orange apartment on May 2. A massive community effort followed with several vigils, searches, and hikes held in her honor.
Her body was discovered on May 16 at Santiago Canyon Road on the hillside of Modjeska Canyon.
Ramos' roommate, 54-year-old Kwang Choi Joy, was arrested in connection with her death and has since been charged with murder.
As they celebrated her graduation today, family members told CBS2's Louisa Hodge they were more determined than ever to convict the person who took her life.
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