FARGO - Emily Schreier says she decided to become an organ donor on the day her best friend died while awaiting a double lung transplant. Now it's official.

Schreier, 17, of West Fargo, and about a dozen friends of Alexa Kersting lined up for new driver's licenses Wednesday morning, the first day of a new law that allows minors to designate their wishes to become organ and tissue donors.

Kersting died in 2004 at the age of 14 when a suitable donor could not be found.

"I knew right then I wanted to be an organ donator and nothing can change that," Schreier said.

Emily Dahley, 17, of West Fargo, was among the first in line to renew her license. She said it was "pretty cool" to see the word "donor" on her card.

"The type is pretty small," Dahley said. "But it has big meaning."

Hunter Odegard, 14, said Alexa was a close family friend, and "I'm glad that this will help people."

Loren and Monica Kersting, Alexa's parents, have made organ donation their mission since their daughter's death. They have traveled the country telling their story to anyone who would listen.

"Our journey has been long and our journey has been difficult," Loren said. "Today our hearts are lifted."

Dr. Bhargav Mistry, a Fargo transplant surgeon, marked the occasion with a success story about his daughter, Karishma, who is doing well after a liver transplant. The new law should save more lives, he said.

"It's truly a gift of life," he said.

More than 96,000 people in the country are waiting for live-saving organ transplants, including more than 2,400 in the Upper Midwest, said Rebecca Ousley, spokeswoman for the organ and tissue donation group LifeSource. Seventeen people die in America each day because organs aren't available, she said.

State legislators in the last session adopted the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, which allows young people to document their decision on a driver's license or state ID card. It also gives relatives of the deceased more authority to decide to donate their loved one's organs.

Loren and Monica Kersting fought back tears as they thanked the teenagers for supporting the program.

"This is a wonderful way to honor Alexa's memory," Monica said. "It's too late for Alexa, but it might not be too late for another family."