Posthumous degree decision Îfalls
through cracksâ

By Sean Weaver
The Metropolitan

Family and friends of Peter Durbin, a Metro student who died in a kayaking accident in June, are still waiting to hear  if he will receive a posthumous degree from Metro.

Durbinâs kayak capsized in the Clear Creek spillway near 44th Avenue and Everett Street. He only needed three classes to complete a degree in Environmental Sciences.

Durbin, 23, could have graduated last December.

Only six posthumous degrees have been awarded over the last 24 years at Metro.
ãA lot of teachers at the Jefferson County Open School (where Peter attended high school) asked if they could write letters to help,ä said his mother, Madeline Durbin. ãIt would be nice if he could get the degree. He worked so hard.ä

The Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department forwarded Durbinâs graduation agreement, along with a letter in support of the degree after his accident June 4. Debbie Thomas, Metroâs spokeswoman, said the School of Letters Arts and Sciences is still looking at the requirements for awarding posthumous degrees.

ãI think itâs one of those things that falls through the cracks,ä said Peterâs father, Charles Durbin.

Peterâs family and friends dedicated a memorial picnic shelter, nicknamed ãPeterâs Palace,ä two months ago on the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt near 44th Avenue and Field Street. John Floyd, a friend of Durbinâs who helped organize the memorial, said the park space was donated in return for the structure.

ãI wanted to keep it near where (the accident) was,ä Floyd said. ãThe Parks people have been very friendly. (They) offered access to power generators and some limited tool supplies.ä

Mrs. Durbin said the structure took three days to complete.

She said 15 to 20 people showed up to work on the shelter.

ãThere were tears, laughter and hard work expressing our love for Pete in a concrete way,ä she said.