![Survivors of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting prepare to graduate high school on June 12.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CLEAN-2-Sandy-Hook-shooting-survivors-get-ready-to-graduate_Getty-Images_featuredImage_Wed-Jun-12-2024.jpg?w=1920)
Graduation day is bittersweet for Sandy Hook shooting survivors
Jun 12
By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor)
Graduation day is bittersweet for high school seniors and their families everywhere, but perhaps more so for a group of students walking the stage Wednesday, June 12, in Newtown, Connecticut. While 330 students are graduating high school there, 350 names will be read out because of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
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Center 68%
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Sandy Hook survivors will honor murdered classmates at their high school graduation
Click to see story on The Independent
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Associated Press News
Sandy Hook survivors to graduate with ‘mixed emotions’ years after 20 peers killed: ‘We can’t forget…’
Click to see story on Hindustan Times
‘It’s going to be heartbreaking:’ Sandy Hook survivors get ready to graduate high school without the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on CNN
‘There is a whole chunk of our class missing’: Sandy Hook survivors reflect on graduating without former classmates
Click to see story on ABC Australia
Sandy Hook survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on npr
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 6 Philadelphia
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 13 Houston
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc11 Raleigh
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 News
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc30 News
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Japan Today
Sandy Hook shooting survivors are graduating and still looking for change
Click to see story on Mass Live
Sandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
Click to see story on WSVN
‘We want to be those regular teenagers’: Sandy Hook shooting survivors prepare for emotional graduation
Click to see story on NBC Connecticut
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on McAlester News-Capital
Click to close
Sandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on KIFI
School shooting survivors: Sandy Hook students set to graduate as Marjory Stoneman Douglas comes down
Click to see story on The Hill
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Washington Top News
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPLG
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Pioneer Press
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 Chicago
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KCRA 3
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on San Diego Union Tribune
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 LA
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WCVB
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WLWT
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WMUR
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WLKY
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WESH
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KETV
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WTAE
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WYFF
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KCCI
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KMBC
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WISN
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WBAL-TV
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPTZ
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WMTW
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WVTM
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions; victims to be honored
Click to see story on Syracuse NY
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KOAT
Sandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on KWWL
Some Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate
Click to see story on Fox8
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate high school
Click to see story on NY1
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WCBD
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on The Columbian
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPBF
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WGAL
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WTNH
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KSBW
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WFSB
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WJCL
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KHBS
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on The Reporter
For Sandy Hook shooting survivors, CT high school graduation is a ‘bittersweet’ milestone
Click to see story on Hartford Courant
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on FOX 61
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WBUR
Click to close
Sandy Hook shooting survivors set to graduate from HS with mixed feelings: ‘A whole chunk of our class missing’
Click to see story on New York Post
‘They’ll be there with us’: Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduate
Click to see story on 9News
Sandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on Albany Herald
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Daily Press
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Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates – The Morning Sun
Click to see story on Morning Sun
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on NXST
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on pantheonsite.io
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on MOR-TV
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on Good Morning America
Click to close
67 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
67
Leaning Left
16
Center
42
Leaning Right
4
Last Updated
2 weeks ago
The 20 extra names will be those of the students whose lives were taken too soon on a December day in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School. That’s when a gunman went into two first-grade classrooms and opened fire, killing 20 students and six educators.
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Ahead of their graduation, survivors of that day reflected.
“The what-ifs kind of spoil a lot of precious moments, you know, just because you always remember that they’re not there,” Ella Seaver said. “So, even going to prom, you think, ‘Well, what if they were my prom date?’ Or, you know, ‘What if they were my significant other? What if they were able to walk the stage with me. Who would I still be friends with now?’”
The children who survived the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, will be graduating high school with mixed emotions.
— Newtown Action Alliance (@NewtownAction) June 11, 2024
We are proud of @Junior_NAA for sharing their stories to #HonorWithAction.https://t.co/zfUkM8zUfd pic.twitter.com/WlERWekU1K
The class of 2024 is wearing green and white ribbons on their graduation gowns that say “forever in our hearts” as another way to memorialize their classmates who never got to make it to this milestone. However, that’s not all they’re doing.
A group of seniors who survived the shooting have been active in the Junior Newtown Action Alliance’s efforts to end gun violence — even taking part in a rally on Friday, June 7, just days ahead of walking the stage.
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“I wanted to turn such a terrible thing into something more, and that these children and educators didn’t die for nothing,” survivor Lilly Wasilnak said. “Of course it was awful what happened to them, and it should have never happened. But I think that for me, something bigger needed to come out of it, or else it would have been all for nothing.”
The Sandy Hook massacre was the deadliest elementary school shooting in U.S. history.
[KARAH RUCKER]
GRADUATION DAY IS BITTERSWEET FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES EVERYWHERE… BUT PERHAPS MORE SO FOR A GROUP OF STUDENTS WALKING THE STAGE WEDNESDAY IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT.
WHILE 330 STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL THERE TODAY… 350 NAMES WILL BE READ OUT.
THE 20 EXTRA NAMES WILL BE THOSE OF THE STUDENTS WHOSE LIVES WERE TAKEN TOO SOON ON A DECEMBER DAY IN 2012 AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THAT’S WHEN A GUNMAN WENT INTO TWO FIRST-GRADE CLASSROOMS AND OPENED FIRE… KILLING 20 STUDENTS AND SIX EDUCATORS.
AHEAD OF THEIR GRADUATION…SURVIVORS OF THAT TRAGIC DAY ARE REFLECTING.
Ella Seaver, Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Survivor
“The what-ifs kind of spoil a lot of precious moments, you know, just because you always remember that they’re not there. So even going to prom, you think, well, what if they were my prom date? Or, you know, what if they were my significant other? What if they were able to walk the stage with me. Who would I still be friends with now?”
[KARAH RUCKER]
THE CLASS OF 2024 WILL BE WEARING GREEN AND WHITE RIBBONS ON THEIR GRADUATION GOWNS THAT SAY “FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS” AS ANOTHER WAY TO MEMORIALIZE THEIR CLASSMATES WHO NEVER GOT TO MAKE IT TO THIS MILESTONE.
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL THEY’RE DOING.
A GROUP OF SENIORS WHO SURVIVED THE SHOOTING HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE JUNIOR NEWTOWN ACTION ALLIANCE’S EFFORTS TO END GUN VIOLENCE – EVEN TAKING PART IN A RALLY LAST FRIDAY… JUST DAYS AHEAD OF WALKING THE STAGE.
Lilly Wasilnak, Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Survivor
“I wanted to turn such a terrible thing into something more, and that these children and educators didn’t die for nothing. Of course it was awful what happened to them, and it should have never happened. But I think that for me, something bigger needed to come out of it, or else it would have been all for nothing.”
[KARAH RUCKER]
THE SANDY HOOK MASSACRE WAS THE DEADLIEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING IN U-S HISTORY.
Related
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below.
Learn more about this dataLeft 26%
Center 68%
Right 7%
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
+0
Click to close
Left
+0
Click to close
Sandy Hook survivors will honor murdered classmates at their high school graduation
Click to see story on The Independent
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Associated Press News
Sandy Hook survivors to graduate with ‘mixed emotions’ years after 20 peers killed: ‘We can’t forget…’
Click to see story on Hindustan Times
‘It’s going to be heartbreaking:’ Sandy Hook survivors get ready to graduate high school without the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on CNN
‘There is a whole chunk of our class missing’: Sandy Hook survivors reflect on graduating without former classmates
Click to see story on ABC Australia
Sandy Hook survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on npr
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 6 Philadelphia
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 13 Houston
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc11 Raleigh
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 News
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc30 News
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Japan Today
Sandy Hook shooting survivors are graduating and still looking for change
Click to see story on Mass Live
Sandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
Click to see story on WSVN
‘We want to be those regular teenagers’: Sandy Hook shooting survivors prepare for emotional graduation
Click to see story on NBC Connecticut
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on McAlester News-Capital
Click to close
Sandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on KIFI
School shooting survivors: Sandy Hook students set to graduate as Marjory Stoneman Douglas comes down
Click to see story on The Hill
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Washington Top News
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPLG
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Pioneer Press
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 Chicago
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KCRA 3
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on San Diego Union Tribune
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 LA
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WCVB
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WLWT
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WMUR
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WLKY
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WESH
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KETV
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WTAE
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WYFF
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KCCI
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KMBC
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WISN
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WBAL-TV
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPTZ
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WMTW
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WVTM
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions; victims to be honored
Click to see story on Syracuse NY
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KOAT
Sandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on KWWL
Some Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate
Click to see story on Fox8
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate high school
Click to see story on NY1
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WCBD
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on The Columbian
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPBF
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WGAL
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WTNH
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KSBW
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WFSB
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WJCL
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KHBS
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on The Reporter
For Sandy Hook shooting survivors, CT high school graduation is a ‘bittersweet’ milestone
Click to see story on Hartford Courant
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on FOX 61
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WBUR
Click to close
Sandy Hook shooting survivors set to graduate from HS with mixed feelings: ‘A whole chunk of our class missing’
Click to see story on New York Post
‘They’ll be there with us’: Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduate
Click to see story on 9News
Sandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on Albany Herald
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Daily Press
Click to close
Right
+0
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Far
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates – The Morning Sun
Click to see story on Morning Sun
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on NXST
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on pantheonsite.io
Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on MOR-TV
Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on Good Morning America
Click to close
67 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
67
Leaning Left
16
Center
42
Leaning Right
4
Last Updated
2 weeks ago
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