MEQUON, Wis. (WMTV) – Ariel Spillner, the DeForest High School graduate and pharmacy student at Concordia University, who was killed in Milwaukee last November, was awarded a posthumous degree at the university’s commencement Friday.
Spillner’s nieces, Kayleigh and Addison, were invited onstage to accept the doctoral degree on their aunt’s behalf.
Before awarding the degree, Leah Dvorak, Concordia University vice president for academics and chief academic officer, said Spillner worked “incredibly hard” to fulfill her dream of becoming a pharmacist.
Spillner’s sister, Courtney, childhood friend Julia Zahn and college friend Savannah Swanson were at the ceremony. They said the university went above and beyond to celebrate Spillner…