WILMINGTON, N.C. — A UNCG police officer will get his diploma after his death.
Sergeant Jaime Young died in February after a ten-month-long battle with colon cancer.
The 46-year-old took online courses at UNC Wilmington for four years to balance his busy schedule as an officer, husband, and father.
He completed his Master's Degree in Public Administration courses before passing away.
UNC-Wilmington presented his wife and children with the posthumous degree Friday morning.
WFMY News 2 spoke to his wife Amy Young who said she saw her husband balance his responsibilities like no other.
"Being able to weigh work and home and still finding time for the kids," Young recalled.
Losing a spouse is tough, but the loss cuts deeper for Amy this Mother's Day weekend.
"Tomorrow would be our 12-year-anniversary, we celebrated our wedding in Jamaica five years ago." Young shared, "I will spend that time with my parents and celebrating that my mom has two incredible grandkids from the two of us."
She wants others to pay attention to their bodies and speak up because it could save your life.
"I know it's a body part that a lot of people don't like to talk about, but it is the biggest organ in our body," Young said.
The American Cancer Society said the lifetime risk for colorectal cancer is 1 in 23 for men and one in 25 for women.
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