South Dakota girl with cancer prevented from graduating
By Associated Press
May 24, 2017 12:27 PM CDT
In this May 23, 2017 photo, Laura Polanco and daughter, Meredith Erck comfort each other while recalling months of fighting Erck's brain tumor while she tried to complete her high school course work in Rapid City, S.D. Erck is six credits short of earning her Rapid City Central high school diploma,...   (Associated Press)

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A western South Dakota high school won't allow a student who has brain cancer to walk at graduation because she is six credits short of being able to officially graduate.

The Rapid City Journal (http://bit.ly/2rAnfX9 ) reports 17-year-old Meredith Erck wasn't sure whether she would live to see graduation day.

The Central High School student had colon cancer before she was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2015. Between surgeries and recovery, she couldn't complete all of her classes on time.

Rapid City school district officials said in a statement that her participation without credit completion "diminishes the accomplishments of the graduates."

Meredith is expected to finish her remaining credits before the end of the next academic year.

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Information from: Rapid City Journal, http://www.rapidcityjournal.com