Shooting victims receive degrees

Struggling to balance grief with a graduation celebration, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger handed out class rings Friday night to the families of students slain during last month's shooting rampage.

As images of the slain students and faculty flashed on a huge screen at Lane Stadium, Steger and Provost Mark McNamee handed out the rings and got hugs from the victims' relatives.

"Please know that moving on - moving on is not the same as forgetting," Steger said. "We shall not forget. Yet, one senseless burst of violence - as horrible and hurtful as it is - will not turn us from our essence." The university planned to hand out diplomas to the slain students Saturday during ceremonies for individual colleges.

"Short was their stay on this mortal stage. Great was their impact," Steger said.