On Tuesday, hundreds of Edison High School students took to the track in memory of two student-athletes taken too soon.
One was a standout football player shot to death in a friend's apartment last September.
"Marquis was funny and outgoing. He was really kind. He was an all-around good person and we're really going to miss him here on campus," said student Magdelana Cazares.
The other, excelled in several sports and passed away in his home about a month ago.
"Carlos was the same way. He went through Computech, came to Edison. He was very connected," said Principal Lindsay Sanders.
Both were student-athletes in their senior year at Edison High School, robbed of the opportunity to graduate and to go on to college. So on Tuesday, a group of students organized an event on campus to remember Marquis Sutton and Carlos Fernandez and to bring closure to the grieving community rallying around them.
"I think it's great we're doing something that's positive," said student Monica Morgan. "Marquis passed during the beginning of the school year so we had dedicated a lot of our football events to him. Now that Carlos is gone I'm glad we can do something to bring the school together like what can we seriously do to help."
With each step the students took around the track, they helped a classmate get closer to going to college.
Students with the Youth Leadership Institute organized the walk-a-thon on their own are collecting money until the end of the year to create scholarships in honor of the two students who passed.
"Yesterday in my class, they were actually donating money," said student-organizer Karen Castanon. "When I sat down next to one of Marquis and Carlos close friends, he just looked up and said look at what they're doing for you and I was touched by that.
The gesture has also inspired students like Jamel Muhammad to pursue a college degree in memory of Marquis.
"I'm going to really do well for him in college, just for him because what he was doing out here, he was playing well in football and was a leader on campus," he said.
The event raised over $650 and fundraising will continue until the end of the year.
In the meantime, Muhammad and his classmates said they look forward to fining out which two students the scholarships will be awarded to when it's scheduled to be announced on June 5th.
