Friends, family members, students, faculty, firefighters and community members gathered April 23 at Heritage High School for a special balloon release and service honoring the life and spirit of Kate Caruso, a 2002 Heritage graduate and fourth grade teacher at Young Americans Christian School who died two years ago from cancer at the age of 26.

Heritage's drama department performed pieces from the spring musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Caruso's younger sister Hannah plays the lead role of Millie.

Last year, Caruso’s family created the “Kate Caruso Light the Way Award” scholarship for a drama student at Heritage in memory of the avid thespian.