For a high school senior, graduation is supposed to be a day of celebration with family and friends.

Lauren Campbell, a senior at Palmerton Area High School, awakened Monday morning with that mindset as she prepared to take her rightful place alongside her fellow graduates for commencement exercises later that evening at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe.Unfortunately, Lauren's celebratory day was about to take a turn for the worse when she received the somber news that her beloved grandfather, Malcolm Campbell Sr., had passed away.Several years ago, Malcolm had a left ventricular assist device put in to treat congestive heart failure.But Lauren said her grandfather got an infection, and after he was brought home from the hospital, had to go on hospice."Ever since Thursday night, I spent every night there," Lauren said.Lauren said her father, Blake Campbell, called her Monday morning to inform her of the tragic loss of her grandfather.While the development wasn't necessarily unexpected to the family, Lauren said it was extremely hard to take."He practically raised my brother and I," Lauren said. "I know he would have wanted to be here."Undeterred, Lauren displayed the courage of a true champion as she proceeded to give her graduation speech as class valedictorian later in the evening.As part of her moving testimonial, Lauren spoke of "experimentation," and incorporated Malcolm into it."My grandfather, Malcom Campbell Sr., lived his life as one great experiment. Unfortunately, he could not attend tonight. He passed away this morning," she told the audience.Lauren continued, "He had an insatiable curiosity for all things living and mechanical, and could often be found tinkering in his pole barn, or just appreciating the natural beauty of his land on golf cart rides with his dog. One year, he'd tap the sugar maples in his yard for syrup; another, he'd try to hatch peacock eggs in his basement, simply because he hadn't raised them before."Lauren added, "When my brother was a child, he extended the handle of a fishing net with PVC tubing so it would be easier for him to catch frogs, then made him another one when my brother lost it in the ocean."He was very in touch with his German heritage and taught himself phrases in Pennsylvania Dutch," she said. "In the end, his life was measured not by how much money he made during his life, but by how many other lives he touched."