The ceremony took place quickly as Ebony Miller walked to a table in Indiana University Northwest’s Anderson Library and flipped a blue tassel on a black mortarboard.

And somewhere, her mom smiled.

“I feel like her spirit is here and I feel she’s extremely proud and happy …” said Miller of her mother, the late Carolyn D. Rogers, a five-term Gary city councilwoman and its former president.

“I feel like her legacy gets to go on and live on through her bachelor’s degree …”

Rogers, who grew up in and represented the city’s 4th District, died last July at age 63 from an illness. Last year’s March shutdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic came as Rogers neared the end of an eight-year journey toward her degree.

On Tuesday, Miller accepted the diploma awarded posthumously that signified her mom earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice, with a minor in political science.

Chancellor Ken Iwama awarded the diploma to Miller repeating the encouragement he gave IUN’s graduates at their commencement last month. “Build upon your remarkable accomplishment today, dream anew to achieve more guided by the noble purpose to help all of us do better and be better …”

Iwama said his words still resonated, but in a different way. For Rogers, he said: “They fulfilled the promise of a life already lived. Carolyn did dream anew and did achieve so much guided by that noble

purpose to help all of us do better …”

Miller said her mother, who spent 30 years as a victim advocate for the Lake County prosecutor’s office, didn’t finish college in the traditional four-year period. Instead, she took courses as she could squeeze them in around work and her duties as a council member.

Rogers’ old boss and friend, Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter, said Rogers worked for four prosecutors during her time in the office. “She was absolutely dedicated to her job,” he said.

That job was a tough one as Rogers worked with crime victims, their families and witnesses to violent crimes during difficult and emotional periods. Typically, she worked with victims from the time charges were filed and through the sentencing process.

“She walked people through the process and it was not an easy one,” said Carter who also praised her tenure on the city council.

“I called her a politician of purpose and her purpose was to serve,” he said. “She was a caring, loving woman.”

Mayor Jerome Prince said he and Rogers joined the city council together in 1999. He praised her devotion to residents in the 4th District. “It’s something she worked hard for every day,” Prince said.

Rogers grew up in the 4th District in the city’s gritty Midtown section and never left. She graduated from Roosevelt High School and then earned a paralegal certificate from Roosevelt University of Chicago.

Miller said her mom was always working with her constituents. “She had several homes torn down. She lived a full life. She served for 20 years and was undefeated. She makes me so proud.”

A 4th District resident, Suzanne Cheairs Green, said she called Rogers to complain about new residents who were disturbing the neighborhood.

“I just had to pick up my phone and it was resolved,” she said. “She’s going to be sorely missed.”

Rogers also led the revitalization effort of one of the biggest eyesores in the city — the shuttered Bear Brand Hosiery Co. structure at 205 E. 21st Ave.

The factory closed its doors in 1965 and fell into decay and neglect, until it was demolished in 2010, an effort spearheaded by Rogers. The U.S. EPA labeled it a Superfund site because of its contamination.

Rogers connected with Chicago-based Greenprint Partners, and partner, Delta Institute, in a $20,000 Legacy Foundation grant project that included the planting of poplar and cottonwood trees designed to help remove contaminants from the soil.

The site pays homage to the stocking factory with murals and a bench with a sewing machine carved into it.

Rogers called it the first step in readying the property to be cleaned for future use and development.

Many of Rogers’ family members attended the ceremony. Rogers’ funeral service was stunted by coronavirus restrictions.

Her younger brother, Roderick Rogers, said his big sister was always there for him and later for her constituents.

“She gave her all. She put 100% into everything.

“Her spirit will live on.”

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.