BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A Baltimore high school loses a staff member to a brutal murder. Now the school is taking time out of its graduation ceremony to honor her legacy.

Gigi Barnett has more on the first-ever Aysha Ring award.

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School’s class of 2011 is small but the school’s first commencement ceremony at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen is large. 

While it’s a time of celebration for the students, one person from the school’s staff is missing: 24-year-old Aysha Ring.

Back in 2008, Ring was stabbed to death while standing in line at a Baltimore County convenience store.  Her killer, David Briggs, received no jail time because he has a mental disorder.

This weekend, the school decided to honor its former staff member by giving away the first ever Aysha Ring Medal.  From now on, it will go to a student who is most like Ring: outgoing, down-to-earth and determined to excel.

“These kids, they’re pushing forward with Aysha’s dreams now,” said her father, Mike Ring, who traveled from Germany to give the award.  “It’s such a happy day for these folks but they continue to allow Aysha to be a part of this family.”

Cristo Rey’s graduating class has 78 students.  Many of them knew Aysha Ring well.

“She was so nice and when she died, it was like a part of Cristo Rey died along with her,” said Susana Carranza, who received the Aysha Ring Medal.

All of the Cristo Rey graduates are headed to college.