Jun 18 2009
Teen Justin Denney Denied Diploma after Blowing Kiss to Mom
Graduating senior Justin Denney from Bonny Eagle High School went on stage to get his diploma and gestured to his friends and family. Superintendent Suzanne Lukas sent Denney back to his seat without his diploma.
Superintendent Suzanne Lukas had warned the students not to fool around on stage and she considered Justin Denney’s blowing a kiss to his mother as disruptive and fooling around. Other students also did not receive diplomas for various reasons including playing with beach balls.
Justin’s mother Mary Denney is reasonably upset. According to Justin, Superintendent Lukas asked Denney why he thought he deserved his diploma, to which he replied, “because I worked hard and earned it” and Lukas’ answer to him was “No, go take your seat.”
After 13 years in school, receiving your high school diploma is a big accomplishment. Did Superintendent Lukas really deny Denney his diploma simply for bowing and blowing a kiss to his mother?
I would hope that Denney is still a high school graduate and that 13 years of work can’t be undone with a gesture or two. Justin Denney is academically qualified to receive a high school diploma and it would seem that regardless of any antics, he would still get his diploma eventually.
Justin Denney and his mother Mary Denney signed a code of conduct contract before the graduation ceremony on June 12. His mother Mary Denney does not believe a bow and a kiss out to your mother violates this contract.
Several students had pulled out beach balls. One student had to sit seperately from his classmates while another was escorted out of the building.
Are we all missing something here?
Beach balls at a graduation can get you escorted out of the building? A bow and a kiss to your mother can leave you without a high school diploma?
What is going on in a school district where the Superintendent is able to exercise such dictatorial punishments?
Justin Denney should have his high school diploma in hand, but regardless, he will not get to participate in a graduation ceremony and receive it. Superintendent Lukas ruined this opportunity for Justin and his family. You don’t get a do over.
Schools these days are out of control…. and i’m not talking about the students…
If I ever have my own kids I think I’ll home school… then find some type of activity to get social skills… public school just isn’t what it’s cracked up to be
It is purely a sensationalized headline, no irony or poetic justice. The student was flaunting some fake honor cords made by his MOM, not authorized or given to him by the school. Did you seriously think the diploma was denied for blowing a kiss to his mom? And the diploma was not denied, just the formal presentation at the ceremony. But the student refused to pick his diploma up at the school. The student then kept saying he had no diploma for over a week, while giving multiple interviews. Did you know the code stated that if a student did not get his diploma at the ceremony, it was to be picked up at the school the following Monday? The only humiliation is of the student by himself and his parents. Oh and there is signicant amounts of humiliation on those who got punk’d by Justin Denney and his family. It appears you are also a victim of Justin Denney. The majority of the people are still behind the superintendent because the majority know all the facts involved. Did you know that part of the reason for the required decorum was because the school was also announcing the awardees of over a $100,000 of scholarships at this time. And that none of the students or parents knew of the awards until this moment. Did you also know the code of conduct did include when celebration could be done by all as a class?