UPDATE: Eddy Conklin to Receive Posthumous Diploma at Graduation

Updated at 8:17 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2016: With public pressure building, the Shelton school district has decided to honor deceased student Eddy Conklin with a posthumous honorary diploma at the high school's graduation on June 10.

There will be an empty chair for Conklin at the ceremony, and another deceased student from the Class of 2016, Kristjan Ndoj, also will be honored, reports the Connecticut Post. Ndoj was shot and killed in 2014.

The Conklins, residents, students and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti were among those who urged the district to reconsider its initial plan of honoring Eddy with an honorary diploma at a separate awards ceremony.

The district's decision Tuesday, following a meeting between officials, the Conklins and Lauretti, should ease the growing tensions between those who wanted Eddy honored at graduation and the school officials who did not want graduation overshadowed by his death. Conklin was killed in a car accident in February, one English class short of the normal requirement for graduation.

Original story: SHELTON, CT - School district officials and the family of deceased Shelton High School senior Eddy Conklin reportedly are continuing discussions concerning how Eddy might posthumously receive his diploma.

The Connecticut Post writes the two sides were scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon, but what specifically was to be discussed was not disclosed.

More than 8,100 students and residents have signed a Change.org petition to have Eddy receive his honorary diploma at graduation, a move also supported by Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti. Additionally, residents are being asked to tie green ribbons around a tree or mailbox to show support for Eddy.

District officials have proposed that Eddy receive the diploma at a separate awards ceremony.

Click here to read the full story on the Connecticut Post website.

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