Student killed in car crash honored at her high school graduation

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Graduates of Ben Davis High School celebrated graduation Saturday, but one student was missing from the class of 2015.

Savannah Bettis was killed nearly two weeks ago in a car wreck, on the last day of her senior year.

She was honored Saturday by her school and peers at the ceremony.

Her classmates describe Bettis as a happy and fun girl.

She was an aspiring special education teacher and set to attend college in the fall.

At graduation her presence was felt through kind words and orange bracelets bearing her name.

The parents of Savannah Bettis received a standing ovation as they accepted her high school diploma.

“I almost cried because it’s just really nice to have that,” Graduate Regina Wright said. “I don’t know if closure is the right word, but just to be able to have her diploma because she did accomplish a lot in four years.”

“I was waiting for her name to go up and once they said her name, everyone stood up and they received her diploma and it was the most amazing thing,” Friend Alexis Harris said.

It was a moment Harris described as a gift for the Bettis family.

“Savannah was their only child and by being able to give them that and be around them it’s really awesome to do that,” she said.

Harris is the creator of the orange Savannah Strong bracelets, worn by many graduates, students and faculty at the ceremony.

“The class of 2015, and really all of Wayne Township, has really come together and supported Savannah and her family,” Ben Davis student Ellie Johnson said.

Many graduates also wore orange ribbons on their gowns.

Harris said seeing Savannah’s favorite color spread across the ceremony took her breath away.

“I didn’t think we could all pull together in such a strong way in front of so many people,” Harris said.

Since Wednesday, nearly 1,400 of those Savannah Strong bracelets have been sold through the McAlister’s in Avon.

All the proceeds will go to the Bettis family.