At an emotional ceremony held on Friday at Warwick Academy honoured former students Dakarai Tucker and Miguel Franco, both of whom died tragically earlier this year.

On January 25, Year 11 Student Dakarai Tucker died from a sudden brain aneurysm. He was at school when he collapsed and was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital, but sadly never regained consciousness.

About a month later, in February, the school received news that Year 12 Student Miguel Franco died after the bike he was riding pillion on collided with a truck and car in Middle Road, Warwick. Miguel suffered fatal head and internal injuries and lost his fight for life two days later.

In memory of the two boys, Warwick Academy planted two cedar trees on the premises and dedicated the sports field in their honour.

Students also raised money for a new scholarship fund in the boys' names, which they presented to their families on Friday.

Headmaster Robert Lennox admitted it had been a hard year for staff and students alike. "We were all deeply shaken by the two tragedies," he said. "The immediate response was to turn to prayer.

"Indeed, Dakarai fought for his life for about a week and the school and his church held prayer meetings. Miguel's struggle was shorter but, even so, the school responded in prayer.

"In both instances, the families shared their grief with the school which was responded with great compassion and love. Whilst the school was sad, it was totally united in compassion and those who were immediately affected were consoled and supported by literally everyone."

Mr. Lennox explained that honouring the boys at the close of the school year means their memories will live on forever.

He said: "The tree planting, the naming of the field and the continued development of scholarship funds in their names were the students' ideas and are all necessary to publicly demonstrate how much they cared. It has helped them deal with their grief.

"The students also wanted to show their love to the families and, I believe also that it has achieved that objective too.

"The Tucker and Franco families have been truly adopted by the school as everlasting members of the Warwick Academy family. In this way, the boys live on."

The ceremony was bittersweet for both families, including Dakarai's father Stephen Tucker, who said: "It brings back that sadness, it has not really left, but today it dug deep, it touched me."

He told The Royal Gazette: "Parents always expect to perish first, but life throws you unexpected turns and you have to deal with it.

"I thank God for my son, even though I only had him for 15 years, and I thank the Lord for allowing me to be his parent, he chose me and I am very proud of that."

Paul Franco, Miguel's brother, admitted he was overwhelmed by the school's support and said: "It's an everlasting sort of gesture, Miguel's name will live on here forever.

"Everything that was done for both boys it is just a representation of who they truly were; to get that kind of gesture, they had to have made an impact while on earth."

He continued: "It's been difficult for my family. It's never an easy thing, but we have accepted that it was God's way; when your time comes, it comes, everybody has a purpose.

"We have all changed for the better, it's a huge price to pay, but it has changed me."