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Bonny Eagle High School Student Denied Diploma for Blowing a Kiss
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by Jarrett Martineau | June 16, 2009 at 09:52 am
97606 views | 51 Recommendations | 792 comments
Justin Denney, a student at Bonny Eagle High School student in Maine, was denied his diploma at a graduation ceremony on June 12th, for "fooling around" after his name was called.
His alleged infraction? Denney simply took a bow, blew a kiss to his family, and pointed to his friends as he got up on stage to receive his high school diploma.
The school's Superintendent Suzanne Lukas ordered Justin Denney to return to his seat and then refused him his diploma to graduate.
Both Denney and his mother Mary Denney are livid — and refuse to accept the school's claim that Denney misbehaved.
Justin Denney was graduating from Bonny Eagle High School June 12 and had gotten up on stage to receive his diploma when he gestured to his friends and relatives.
School Superintendent Suzanne Lukas abruptly told Denney to return to his seat, according to WMTW TV in Maine. He didn't get his diploma.
His mother, Mary Denney, is livid. Her son told her that the superintendent warned, "There's no fooling around up here."
"He just kind of looked at her because he wasn't fooling around. He didn't consider that fooling around or misbehaving in any sense of the word," Mary Denney told WMTW.
Lukas reportedly asked the soon-to-be graduate why he thought he deserved a diploma.
"He goes, 'Because I worked hard and I earned it,' and she goes, 'No, go take your seat,'" his mother told the station.
Other students also walked away empty-handed because of various disruptions during the ceremony. Some started playing with beach balls and others were separated from their friends, according to WMTW.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (792)
at 05:16 on June 17th, 2009
Dear Mr. AV;
It is so not right to say some of the thing you are saying, is the diploma for behavior or for work that he accomplished to get an education, a diploma is not a gift. He is a graduate even if your rediculous system did not award him the diploma. He has already shown that he is the better person in that you are not in court awaiting to find out what the award is for defimation, pain and suffering caused by the emotional distress of your defence of the poor judgment on the part of another very poor administrators of the publics trust. You all deserve to be in the unemployment line.
Only thing is you could never get or hold a job in education if the public were to make the decision to hire you or not.
at 16:57 on June 20th, 2009
You are correct, he earned the diploma and it can not be taken away from him. What you fail to understand is that the graduation ceremony is a privilege, the school does not have to provide one. If Justin does not want to follow the rules then he does not get his diploma.
Read through the posts before you make up your mind. He didn't get in trouble for blowing a kiss.
at 19:17 on June 16th, 2009
Wow, really? You truly believe her actions were ok? Seriously, do you not remember what it was like to graduate? Hmm, or maybe your the superintendent just trying to justify yourself? Newsflash, this student was happy, full of joy and love for his family and was sharing it with everyone. He was actually showing gratitude for all those years of education, it is people like you who cause kids of today to lash out like they do. How hard is it to accept that there will be happiness on one of the most important days of your life? He did not desecrate anything, I think you need to rethink your commment person.
at 20:15 on June 16th, 2009
And just who gave the superintendent this extraordinary power? Do we pay tax dollars year after year to give these geeks the power to decide whatever they feel like or to educate our kids? Hm? Without our tax dollars, she wouldnt even have a job, no teacher would. So I believe anyone who feels outraged about this should rightly so. The student is not the perpetrator here, the Superintendent is...why are you even defending this chick? It was disrespectful for her to withhold the diploma from this kid, not for him to blow kisses to his mom. He will probably, eventually get his diploma, but damn, get real.
at 22:19 on June 16th, 2009
How did he "desecrate" anything? You sir are deluded to believe he did. Ms. Lukass could have preceived what he did as disruptive, sure. Is it a dumb thing to think is so? Absolutely. But I am betting my own life that Justin thought what he did was not going to be disruptive at all. Yes, graduation should be held in respect, but also fun. It's joyous time of celebration, and if you, and the (apparent) wretch that is Ms. Lukass thinks it is not, then A) you are gravely mistaken and misinformed and B) need to remember that graduation day is for the students whom are graduating, not for the adminstrators. I believe you sir, to be insane. No offense is meant by this, but if you truly believe that she was right, then you are not proper in the head. I went to a friend's graduation just two weeks ago, and the students there were hugging the adminstrators and cheering for their friends and had a beach ball or two. The adminstrators were having fun with all that as well. I pray that you seek out some help, because, based on your statement here, you severely need it.
at 10:09 on June 17th, 2009
Dear Mr. AV,
For your information, the school is the service provider and the students are their customers. There can be no jobs for them without the customers. But customers can always find other providers. The school exist because of the students. Not the other way round. It should always be focus on the needs and wants of customers. You are certainly no manager.
Graduations are about students and they have a right to how it is suppose to be. Graduations are events for celebration, not just a rigid ceremony. Showig joy and pride does not mean disrespect. Which part of his actions do you see disrespect in?
I hope you would reply to my reply.
Dorinda
at 18:43 on June 16th, 2009
Come on now! Commend that senior for loving his family who has supported him thru to get to this point, He didn't throw a punch, show any indecency, or be anyway disrespectful, he threw a kiss.... a small token of love and appreciation. In todays day and age where violence is a daily issue, we want to punish him?? Let's re-evaluate the morals and standards we are teaching our children thru this incident.
at 18:44 on June 16th, 2009
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU HAVE TO BE JOKING!!! THIS LADY IS FROM ANOTHER PLANET!!!
at 18:45 on June 16th, 2009
Honestly- i mean what the hell is this world coming too. I have been out of school for 5 years now and i hated some of my school board bc they seemed to think they were god and could get away with anything! If i were this boys mother not only would i be writting to my congressman, senator, govenor anyone that would listen but i would get me a damn good attorney, i hope this crazy bitch gets whats coming. Its people like her that make our kids soo crazy now a days it is rediculous!!!!!!!!!
at 18:48 on June 16th, 2009
Seriously... WTF!?? After reading the article all I could think of is "What the hell did this kid do wrong!?" I dont know how the educational standars are in Maine but where im from there's way bigger issues than "a tennager blowing a kiss to his mother". When I graduated military basic training, right after the ceremony, I went straight to my family and kissed my mother, my sister and my dad. This is just an example of how poor the judgement of the faculty of this school is. High school graduation is one of the most important days in a teenager's life and as I recall is one of my best days ever (im 25). An achievement like this IS SUPPOSED TO BE CELEBRATED with the ones you love and the ones that helped you reach that goal. What is it goin to be next Mr. Principal?? No kisses during a birthday, or new years?? Or how about no Hershey's kisses during period breaks. Give that kid the diploma he deserves.
at 18:51 on June 16th, 2009
Lukas must have had a really sad childhood to behave like that. Growing up, maybe, she was deprived of any emotional support from her family.
at 18:54 on June 16th, 2009
EITHER FIRE THAT BITCH LUKAS, OR EXPECT MORE OF HER TYRANNY IN THE FUTURE. IF YOU DON'T FIRE HER THEN YOU GET WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR & THAT MAKES LOOK DUMBER THAN WHAT SHE IS.
at 18:55 on June 16th, 2009
Here, the best way to a hold of the lady who personally refused the student his diploma.
at 04:22 on June 17th, 2009
Thanks for the info. It got me thinking, we should be contacting her boss, and I think I found her:
Susan A. Gendron
Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 624-6620
susan.gendron@maine.gov
I saw everyone bombard them both till there is a public appology to this boy and his family and a public appology to the other students Ms. Lukas would not give a diploma to that day.
I just email Ms. Lukas and I am about to email Susan, I suggest we all do it and fight for this kid and the others Ms. Lukas denied diplomas to that day!
at 18:57 on June 16th, 2009
Must be alot of bone head administrators at bonny high school. Wonder why kids here grow up less ambitious, less motivated, and less productive than those of Asian or Indian cultures, where administrators have something called common sense and don't do things strictly by the book. Why dont you bone heads go deep freeze your brains till they find a cure of it.
at 18:59 on June 16th, 2009
You have no idea what else this kid did besides blow his family a kiss ~ he was probably acting up in other ways, along with other students. The school may have felt they didn't have a choice.
Think about it.
at 19:06 on June 16th, 2009
I highly disagree with you, he did nothing wrong. At graduation, you have every right to be happy and excited, for dear sakes you survived 4 years of high school. At my high school they were tossing beach balls around and you know what as long as we weren't doing anything to hurt anyone, my schoolboard didn't care, and we stuck with that. You need to stop being narrow-minded as that superintendent.
at 14:41 on June 20th, 2009
I understand your feeling but you are incorrect. Other things did happen and other rules were broken. You do not have the complete story.
at 04:00 on June 17th, 2009
You can't be serious about this comment. I don't care what this boy did. The graduating ceremony is not the deciding factor for your diploma. All the years of hard work and dedication, are what got you there in the first place. Regardless of how a kid acts on that stage, they still earned their diploma. Can't these people just be happy for these kids?? These kids who've worked so hard, and done what they had to do for years. Apparently these administrators feel they're allowed to do as they please. Why not just have the disrupting kid(s) leave - and not allow them to get their diploma on stage like the rest. That would be humiliating. How is what she did even legal. A bow?? A blown kiss to his mother?? I don't care what else he did, she waited until that exact moment to deny him something that is rightfully his. I'm pretty sure that the deciding factor on where or not you graduate is dependent on your grades. By the time the ceremony comes around, you've already passed and your're just waiting for the paper that sqays so. To even deny a person for such reasons of acting up during the ceremony is not only insane, but unethical. Can't wait to hear the next news stories of what happens to Mrs. Lukas.
at 04:03 on June 17th, 2009
You think about it, you worthless cow. Are you and Lukas lesbian lovers? I believe you are. She will not be make the victim in this. You and her breed are deranged.
at 19:00 on June 16th, 2009
I think that school super should get her head out of her ass there was nothing wrong with a bow and a kiss to family and friends she need's to be slaped for being a bitch.
at 19:00 on June 16th, 2009
If this actually happened, and it isn't some sort of Urban Legend in the making, it is one of the most arbitrary, whimsically capricious acts I have ever heard of.
This unfortunate woman must have had an extraordinary degree of personal pain in her life, to make her able to strike out this way at the children over whom she has somehow been given power. I would hope, though, that as an adult she would have learned to cope with the pain and have become responsible in her exercise of power.
I hope Ms. Lucas has friends with whom she can talk, who can help her become a happier person. In the meantime, I hope she is able to use the considerable outrage her behavior has generated as a barometer of her conduct. It can be a positive thing for her, in that--if she does not simply barricade her conscience againast it--it might help her behave more responsibly in the future.
We are all prone to believe "it's all about us," when our buttons are pushed. We all fail from time to time at those moments. Whe we have the likves and futures of others in our hands, however, we need to learn to take a deep breath before we react.
I wish Ms. Lucas the best. She will not achieve that best, however, by clinging to immaturity.
Fr. Jim <><
just another sinner
at 19:00 on June 16th, 2009
It is amazing to me how adults fix their mouths to say how the quality of life is deteriorating when sometimes they're the ones who make this happen. A person paying homage to his mother by blowing her a kiss and bowing should be rejuvinating, not reprimanded!! In a world filled with crack babies, unwanted teenage pregnancies, drugs, drinking, not to mention all the youngsters who are being sent to adult penitentiaries for murders, racketeering, etc., a woman has the audacity to punish an 18 year old man on up until then (besides virginity) the most important event in his life? We as adults have to stop abusing our authority just because we can!! It's a sucker's bet that she had someone else and/or something provoke her that had nothing to do with Justin Denney. Anything short of cursing the school, staff, or an individual, or an innapropiate deliberate show of flesh ala Janet Jackson should slide; as I said before; on the most important day of their life if they aren't a teenage parent. God have mercy on you
at 19:01 on June 16th, 2009
This is so ridiculous. This administrator needs to get a life. May be when she goes to collect her next paycheck, she needs to be TOLD by her superior that please take a seat and sorry no paycheck for you for bringing so much shame and bad publicity for this school. She has no business to be in public life.
The boy should be commended for showing his emotions and love for his mother. If anyone who should be condemed, it should be that stupid administrator. Shame on her...
at 19:03 on June 16th, 2009
This story is a little silly if you ask me! A KISS! Come on! What is wrong with the adults in this picture, he felt proud as he should! To me he was honoring his mother by giving her that gesture! Especially with the growing economical problems most kids have to quit high school and get jobs just support there family! I personally think the adult should be found at fault! A little ridiculous! Best of Luck to him and his family!
at 19:05 on June 16th, 2009
Ms Lukas,
You're definately on some kind of power trip that will only land you in the unemployment line! What you did was absolutely WRONG! I hope the family seeks legal counsel for this. I don't thinks it's legel to deny Justin Denny his graduation diploma based on behavior. Especially not blowing his mom a kiss!! If he earned the required credits, he earned his diploma and has every right to receive it!. I not only feel you owe him his diploma, I think you should have to present it to him in his cap and gown on national TV!!
Hey Justin,
There are alot of us angry moms and dads who support you and your family! Don't back down, you deserve your diploma! I hope she loses her job because of it!
at 19:08 on June 16th, 2009
You know it is real sad that we know live in a world that has so many problems war , violence, ect... it goes on and on..Serious problems i just think it is so sad when something so harmless as blowing a kiss to a loved one in a moment of pride and acomplishment seriously let's not sweat the small stuff.This so called superintendent should rethink her job and probably step down because she ruined a day that should have been joyful for the families and let's face it 18 year olds are going to be 18 year olds, let's worry about the ones that are breaking the law doing drugs and causing harm to others not getting wrapped up and excited for a acomplishment..
at 19:10 on June 16th, 2009
Here's the superintendent's e-mail address and phone number! suzanne_lukas@sad6.k12.me.us 207-929-9108
at 19:11 on June 16th, 2009
Ms. Lukas, what would you feel if it was done to your son?
You robbed the kid and his mom the "JOY" that the event would bring. It is only once in a lifetime that you would graduate high school.
That was a ridiculous disciplinary action.
at 19:12 on June 16th, 2009
He blew a kiss. At least he didn't pull a gun or yank off his clothes and go streaking around the auditorium. This makes me indescribably angry.