Honorary Diploma to Be Awarded to Fermi Student Who Passed Away

Enfield, CT — The memory of a courageous teenager who valiantly fought cancer will be honored Thursday night at the final graduation ceremony at Fermi High School.

Jacob Carlander, 17, a Fermi student and standout athlete in town, passed away Aug. 14, 2015 after suffering from liver cancer since age 12 and enduring a liver transplant.

Carlander's family requested an honorary diploma be presented at what would have been Jacob's graduation this week. At a special meeting Tuesday of the Enfield Board of Education, the request was approved.

On her Facebook page, Annkera Carlander, Jacob's mother, wrote, "Andrew and I would like to thank our community for the support of Jacob's honorary diploma. They have decided to go ahead now and present an honorary diploma at the graduation ceremony. We are pleased that Jacob and our family get what is deserved."

Last month, senior members of the Fermi baseball team presented a jersey to Carlander's family following the final regular season home game against Enfield High School.

The graduation ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Fermi athletic stadium.

Related Story: Courageous Enfield Teen Succumbs to Cancer

Photo courtesy of the Carlander family

To register for free for Enfield breaking news alerts and daily newsletter, click here.