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Bonny Eagle High School Student Denied Diploma for Blowing a Kiss
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 19:57 on June 16th, 2009
I believe that the administrator was extremely frustrated and took those emotions a few steps to far. I hope that the student will be allowed their diploma.
at 19:57 on June 16th, 2009
What the???? What kind of a person/people would deny a student their diploma for blowing a kiss???!!!! Avery stupid and cold hearted person. What a cold, cold heart. Shame on you!!
at 19:58 on June 16th, 2009
WTF!!!!! One of the guys in my graduating class actually grabbed our principal, dipped her and kissed her straight on the mouth when he got his diploma!!!! This is the reason why songs like "The Wall" are created. Please people, we aren't robots!!!!
at 20:31 on June 16th, 2009
Haha i would have loved to see that at my graduation.
at 19:58 on June 16th, 2009
i think this is crazy somebody needs to do something about this woman.the boy was excited and wanted to express this with his mom and love ones by blowing a kiss and he gets his diploma taken away.maybe someone needs to put that women in class and have her work her ass off and then tell her she did it all for nothing she was probally one of those spoiled kids who had everything handed to her and didn't have to earn it on her on.in my book she should be labeled as a selfish b***h.i wish yall the best of luck in getting What Belongs To Him,and good work Justin
at 19:59 on June 16th, 2009
Sent my email to suzanne_lukas@sad6.k12.me.us
What the hell is this world coming to. These people need to get over themselves. If the kid had streaked across the stage or flashed everyone then i would say they had grounds for this response, but give me a break.
What country do we live in again???? It seems some of us have forgotten.
at 20:00 on June 16th, 2009
There is something wrong with this person. I have three kids graduated from High school and they all did silly things on their graduation day and they all in college don't be so uptight live happy and let other live, life is too short. You dont belong in schools find a job that dont require dealing with children.
at 20:02 on June 16th, 2009
Why don't we just email this Suzanne Lukas and give her a nice blow to her HUGE EGO!
slukas@sad6.k12.me.us
at 20:02 on June 16th, 2009
If it was my son or daughter, they wouldn't have to worry about where the money for college was coming from...Lukas would pay for it and NEVER work in public education in that state again! Someone needs to organise a march on the school and the superintendent's house. They took something from this young man that can't be replaced...EVER...a special moment in time. She raped this young man's memory. As a veteran, this isn't the country I fought for!
at 20:03 on June 16th, 2009
Fukk that this is just some bitch with panties to big for her she should be fired i hate whores like her that make the world a shit hole when you happy i would got my diploma and ran wit it and said bitch catch me
at 20:04 on June 16th, 2009
My god, it makes my stomach hurt to even try to think about something like that!
at 20:06 on June 16th, 2009
Honor Glory Peace and Joy to Our Heavenly Father the Father and God of Our Wonderful Lord and Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen and Amen
There have never been a law written against love. I would not want to be in that Principal's shoes right now because what goes around comes around. How can administer such a cruel precept. Ridiculous
Be encouraged young man, they can't take your integrity away from you unless you let them. God Bless you and continue to keep you and your lovely family. Amen
at 20:06 on June 16th, 2009
Fuck that school. How they going to take a what he worked 4 years for, beceause her blew his family a kiss in excitment and joy. Fuck those bastards. I would bitch slap them for sure.
at 20:06 on June 16th, 2009
lukas needs to get laid
at 20:08 on June 16th, 2009
Why don't we all email this Suzanne Lukas and tell her what we really think about her EGO
slukas@sad6.k12.me.us
at 20:08 on June 16th, 2009
I graduated from a Maine High School in 1973, I'm glad that my children did NOT attend this school. If they had shown their appreciation for the fact that they had completed ALL the requirements to complete High School and this happened. I would be sueing ALL PERSONAL, for allowing this to happen. It would take more than a public apology from the Supertendant to have this settled. My children graduated from a school in Georgia and many of the studends showed their appreciation to their parents in this manner and they were applaudded for their actions. This is what should have happened instead of punishing the individual. I think the Supertendant should get a life, she probably hasn't had anyone show her this kind of appreciation for the help she has given to someone in their life.
at 20:20 on June 16th, 2009
I think Lukas got exactly what she wanted. Her 15 minutes of glory. Unfortunately, she got it at the expense of the graduating class. It wasn't just the
at 20:20 on June 16th, 2009
I hope the super intendent is reading all the comments posted about her and her actions and I hope she feels remorse for what she has done to Justin. She took away one of the most important days of his life. I hope Justin is reading all of the comments and knowing that we are all behind him and hope that he and his family get justice.
To Justin Denney, congratulations on all your hard work, you earned it, I hope that this act from an obvious immature and uncaring individual does not stop you from continuing your education and hard work toward your goals. Know that what she did was unfair, unjust, and most certainly uncalled for. You deserve your diploma and much more and you have many many people supporting you and backing you and your family up.
P.S also congratulations to the other students who were refused their diploma, you all worked hard and deserved your diploma.
at 20:27 on June 16th, 2009
what a jerk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
at 20:28 on June 16th, 2009
Start a phone chain and call the school board day and night until Lukas is out of there
at 20:32 on June 16th, 2009
They should all lose their jobs, and what's more they should all be ashamed of their selves!!!!
at 20:37 on June 16th, 2009
this young man deserves his diploma, the supt needs to seek menital health maybe early menopause
at 20:39 on June 16th, 2009
wow that sucks. being denied your diploma you worked hard for is like being denied your own birthday. its because of people like Lukas that there are druggies and such
at 20:43 on June 16th, 2009
Graduation is a ceremony for the kids, not for the educators. suzanne lukas had her ceremony 80 years ago and needs to get over it. Graduating college is a fairly solemn event--graduating high school is something everyone can attain, and it is not the big deal now that it was when half the population were farmers. Get over yourself, Ms. Lukas. And you parents in this district need to exert some control. Remind them who the school district is for and answers to. And I am fifty, by the way, not a student myself.
at 20:43 on June 16th, 2009
These kids most definetly deserve their diploma. Look how far they came. So many people give up and drop out before there junior or freshman year, (because of people like these superintendents). Young people have so many challenges to face today, (ex. living in single parent homes, or without any parents at all, there is so much sickness and death that it takes such a toll on students), there are so many things going on in life that I feel like any student that tries their best and especially the ones who actually make it to graduation after 13 years of school, they should be able to express how happy they are on graduation day. These authoritive figures seem to think that a student that has been in school the majority of there life is supposed to sit there on graduation day and look gloomy, not be happy, like Eeyore on Winnie the Pooh. This is absolutely insane. I feel so sorry for children trying to make it in this tough world. When the people that you are supposed to trust turn their backs on you like this it could cause some really bad things to happen. You know that that boy was so humiliated at graduation not only in front of his friends but also his family and no telling how many other people. This was very embarrassing, and he deserves a public apology. Why do people have to be so cruel. I bet this woman would not have treated an animal as cruel as she treated that student. This is so sad.
at 20:45 on June 16th, 2009
I have not graduated yet, I will be a jnior this coming fall, but I hope nothing like this happens to me. I mean, noone gets denied their diploma at my school, and there have been beach ball incidents every year. I am waiting for the day, where they either:
a. Just at graduation, hand out a stack of diplomas, and say, take one pass it around, and sign your name.
b. Force you to walk in rythm across the stage, therefore, preventing anyhing excess to happen.
at 20:45 on June 16th, 2009
What is wrong with that woman? Does she not have a child that would be proud enough to throw her a kiss after such an accomplishment. Lady you blew it.
at 20:46 on June 16th, 2009
ok you people are really stupid. I graduated 2002, and we had those rules already. If we did something besides walk up the stage and back down we will not receive our diploma for like 6 weeks for doing it. someone in our class did it and same thing happen to him. the rules are simple, but if the idiot kid didnt want to follow them then he got was he had coming. unless he is a really stupid person or can't hear, then i don't see what was so hard about following the rules. just because he and his retarded parents are making a big ass scene everyone is liking their asses. Rules are made for a reason, and thats that. I worked my ass off for 4 years and at the end listen and did what i was suppose to do. he could of kissed his mom when they were done but instead his dumbass decided the rules didnt apply to him and decided to test them, well he got what he had coming
at 21:02 on June 16th, 2009
Are u serious?! I know the damn media has ways of twisting stories, but if this is true have some symphaty for the kid for showing his emotions, like everyone should be able to. I mean seriously I can see if you are from another country and this type of stuff isnt normal, and your not allowed to fucken show your like emotions or anything, but this is fucken America. We should have our fucken rights to speak and show our enjoyment, especially for accomplishing I seriously cannot fucken beleive you advocate that bitch and their stupid ass fucken rules. FUCK THEM!!!!!
at 21:12 on June 16th, 2009
i actually took the time to read a few more..and finally i read someone (you) with common sense and a rational approach to this...no &HIT he most likely got what he had coming...id bet big on him doing whatever he could to test the limits...
and..big deal..pick up the dip. later