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CNN Live Today

Interview With Andrea Walekar

Aired May 19, 2003 - 10:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Police say that John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo have been linked to 20 shootings, including 13 deaths. One of their alleged victims was a Washington-area cab driver, gunned down just days after his 54th birthday.
Now, just 7 months after his death, his daughter is keeping his memory and his dream alive by doing something that he always wanted her to do. Andrea Walekar is going us now. She is in Washington to tell us more about that. Andrea, it is a pleasure to have you here with us.

ANDREA WALEKAR, DAUGHTER OF SNIPER VICTIM: Hi.

KAGAN: Let's get right to the big news, and that is, over the weekend, you graduated from college.

WALEKAR: Yes, I graduated on Saturday. It was an exciting day, but it was also sad at the same time.

KAGAN: I would imagine. Tell us about the ceremony, your degree, and how this was your father's dream for you.

WALEKAR: Well, the ceremony started at 9:00 and ended like around 12:00, and I completed my bachelors of science and business management, with my minor in human resource management, and this was a big dream for my father because he came here on a student visa and he never had an opportunity to finish his education, so he always emphasized that me and my brother should finish our school.

KAGAN: And you were so close when this terrible thing happened to your father and to your family. Back in October, he was at the gas station in Montgomery County when he was shot and he was killed, and as we mentioned, two suspects about to go on trial -- or within the year for that. This was such a hard time for your family. As I understand it, at a certain point, you considered dropping out of college?

WALEKAR: Yes. It was very challenging for me, and at times I lost focus, and I couldn't -- I was overwhelmed with everything that was going on.

KAGAN: Understandably.

WALEKAR: Yes. And my professors were very understanding and they were very helpful, and in a way this also kind of motivated me. My dad was my motivation, because the last conversation I had with him was about my school and my graduation in May, so I wanted to make sure that I told him -- what I had told him was going to be done.

KAGAN: So at a certain point you kind of had a talk with yourself, and said as difficult as this is, you have to go on for your dad.

WALEKAR: Yes. Definitely.

KAGAN: And you did. And so you graduated -- at the (ph) ceremonies, I could see the top of the cap, your cap and gown that you wrote "Thanks, Dad" on the top.

WALEKAR: Yes, I did.

KAGAN: How else did you include your dad in the weekend festivities?

WALEKAR: Well, I just kept imagining him still being there in spirit, and the reason why I did write "Thanks, Dad" on there is because he's the one who did motivate me, and he also, obviously, paid for my college and he was always 100 percent behind me, and he wanted to make sure I completed it. So, at times it was challenging, and he was always there for me, cheering me on.

KAGAN: Could you feel his spirit with you there this weekend?

WALEKAR: Yes. I feel he was there with me in spirit, and so did my family. It was -- like I said, it was a sad moment, too, because he wasn't there to share it, but I know his spirit was there, he saw everything that was going on.

KAGAN: I understand you brought your diploma with you?

WALEKAR: Yes. Well, it hasn't -- it is going to be mailed in June.

KAGAN: You don't have it. That's how that works. Plans now, how closely is your family following the case of the two suspects, of Malvo and Muhammad as that goes through the court system?

WALEKAR: We have -- I've been really busy with finals and homework and everything, so I haven't really been paying attention, but people have been telling me about it. But right now, we haven't been focusing on the two suspects or the trial.

KAGAN: Focusing more appropriately on your accomplishments. Tell me what your plans are now? First of all, I know your brother is about to start college, so there is a second part of your dad's dream about to come to fruition.

WALEKAR: He actually started last semester, last fall, and with everything going on he had -- he dropped his class, so he is starting at the end of this month, and I have also encouraged him that he needs to keep going with his school, because is a computer programmer and in that field you don't really need a degree, and he has certifications, but he does want to go back and one day he wants to start his own company. KAGAN: Well, good for him. Good for you. I can just feel your dad smiling down. I just know he would be so, so proud.

WALEKAR: Thank you.

KAGAN: Thank you for sharing your accomplishment and congratulations.

WALEKAR: Thank you.

KAGAN: Andrea Walekar, college graduate. Great to you have with us.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired May 19, 2003 - 10:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Police say that John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo have been linked to 20 shootings, including 13 deaths. One of their alleged victims was a Washington-area cab driver, gunned down just days after his 54th birthday.
Now, just 7 months after his death, his daughter is keeping his memory and his dream alive by doing something that he always wanted her to do. Andrea Walekar is going us now. She is in Washington to tell us more about that. Andrea, it is a pleasure to have you here with us.

ANDREA WALEKAR, DAUGHTER OF SNIPER VICTIM: Hi.

KAGAN: Let's get right to the big news, and that is, over the weekend, you graduated from college.

WALEKAR: Yes, I graduated on Saturday. It was an exciting day, but it was also sad at the same time.

KAGAN: I would imagine. Tell us about the ceremony, your degree, and how this was your father's dream for you.

WALEKAR: Well, the ceremony started at 9:00 and ended like around 12:00, and I completed my bachelors of science and business management, with my minor in human resource management, and this was a big dream for my father because he came here on a student visa and he never had an opportunity to finish his education, so he always emphasized that me and my brother should finish our school.

KAGAN: And you were so close when this terrible thing happened to your father and to your family. Back in October, he was at the gas station in Montgomery County when he was shot and he was killed, and as we mentioned, two suspects about to go on trial -- or within the year for that. This was such a hard time for your family. As I understand it, at a certain point, you considered dropping out of college?

WALEKAR: Yes. It was very challenging for me, and at times I lost focus, and I couldn't -- I was overwhelmed with everything that was going on.

KAGAN: Understandably.

WALEKAR: Yes. And my professors were very understanding and they were very helpful, and in a way this also kind of motivated me. My dad was my motivation, because the last conversation I had with him was about my school and my graduation in May, so I wanted to make sure that I told him -- what I had told him was going to be done.

KAGAN: So at a certain point you kind of had a talk with yourself, and said as difficult as this is, you have to go on for your dad.

WALEKAR: Yes. Definitely.

KAGAN: And you did. And so you graduated -- at the (ph) ceremonies, I could see the top of the cap, your cap and gown that you wrote "Thanks, Dad" on the top.

WALEKAR: Yes, I did.

KAGAN: How else did you include your dad in the weekend festivities?

WALEKAR: Well, I just kept imagining him still being there in spirit, and the reason why I did write "Thanks, Dad" on there is because he's the one who did motivate me, and he also, obviously, paid for my college and he was always 100 percent behind me, and he wanted to make sure I completed it. So, at times it was challenging, and he was always there for me, cheering me on.

KAGAN: Could you feel his spirit with you there this weekend?

WALEKAR: Yes. I feel he was there with me in spirit, and so did my family. It was -- like I said, it was a sad moment, too, because he wasn't there to share it, but I know his spirit was there, he saw everything that was going on.

KAGAN: I understand you brought your diploma with you?

WALEKAR: Yes. Well, it hasn't -- it is going to be mailed in June.

KAGAN: You don't have it. That's how that works. Plans now, how closely is your family following the case of the two suspects, of Malvo and Muhammad as that goes through the court system?

WALEKAR: We have -- I've been really busy with finals and homework and everything, so I haven't really been paying attention, but people have been telling me about it. But right now, we haven't been focusing on the two suspects or the trial.

KAGAN: Focusing more appropriately on your accomplishments. Tell me what your plans are now? First of all, I know your brother is about to start college, so there is a second part of your dad's dream about to come to fruition.

WALEKAR: He actually started last semester, last fall, and with everything going on he had -- he dropped his class, so he is starting at the end of this month, and I have also encouraged him that he needs to keep going with his school, because is a computer programmer and in that field you don't really need a degree, and he has certifications, but he does want to go back and one day he wants to start his own company. KAGAN: Well, good for him. Good for you. I can just feel your dad smiling down. I just know he would be so, so proud.

WALEKAR: Thank you.

KAGAN: Thank you for sharing your accomplishment and congratulations.

WALEKAR: Thank you.

KAGAN: Andrea Walekar, college graduate. Great to you have with us.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com