Cambridge uni heart attack death student gets first class honour

Clarissa should have been expecting to graduate on Thursday and was predicted to complete her studies with the highest honours.

A University of Cambridge spokesperson said that the university’s policy “does not allow us to confer a degree on someone who has passed away before completing their course, however, we can issue a certificate honouring their achievement”.

In her absence, Clarissa’s parents received her certificate.

Her mother, Hilary Nicholls said: “We are very grateful to Trinity Hall for including us in celebrating what should be Clarissa’s final stage of her journey as an undergraduate at the college.

“Despite a journey cut tragically short we want to celebrate her achievements alongside her cohort as it should have been. We know that we would have been very proud of her today and we remain proud of her dedication, determination and resilience as she set out to be the very best she could be.

“She put everything into her studies, the friends she made here and the staff that supported her along the way including while she was on her year abroad.

“We are grateful for the happy times she clearly took away with her to the next life.”