CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago Police Officer Aréanah Preston was supposed to have graduated from Loyola University Chicago Law School with a master's degree on Saturday.
Instead, the officer, who was murdered last weekend, was remembered during the ceremony.
Fr. Jerome Overbeck acknowledged that a member of the class of 23 was missing during a mass.
“Especially this day, we remember with gratitude our Loyola law student Aréanah Preston,” Overbeck said.
During the commencement ceremony, Preston's mother accepted her degree.
“Aréanah Mikayla Preston is receiving the Master of Jurisprudence posthumously. Here to accept the degree is Officer Preston’s mother Dionne Mhoon.”
The 24-year-old officer’s mother received an ovation that lasted for nearly two minutes. She was joined on stage by several others, one of whom held a large photograph that showed a smiling Preston in her graduation cap and gown.
A link to the commencement can be found here. Video of the moment when Mhoon took the stage can be found at the 1:19:20 mark.
On Tuesday night, hundreds gathered at a vigil held for Preston at the Calumet District police station. She was remembered by the district commander as someone who was always positive.
“She always wanted to be an officer,” Cmdr. Tyrone Pendarvis said. “She loved helping people, and she loved being able to talk people down.”
Mhoon thanked those who attended the vigil.
“I’m going to be all right,” she said. “I’ve got this big old police family behind me.”
Preston’s funeral will be next Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Trinity United Church of Christ at 400 W. 95th St.
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