Perfection came one day at a time for these students
By Toni Konz Tatman | JCPS Communications
Thinking all the way back to his first day of school as a kindergartner at Coral Ridge Elementary School, Matthew Sutter says it wasn't always easy to get up and go to school every day.
"I'm sure we’ve all had days where you wake up and don’t feel like going," the 17-year-old senior from Atherton High School said. "I just felt it was a good thing to get up and just go. It just became part of my daily routine."
That routine has earned Sutter and three other students high accolades, as they will graduate with 13 years of perfect attendance throughout their entire school career. The others include Darvell Bricest and Elijah Collins from Butler Traditional High School and Tori Vestal from duPont Manual High School. In addition, Gianna Cecil from Louisville Male High School will graduate with 12 years of perfect attendance.
"Perfect attendance throughout one’s entire school career is both a tremendous personal and educational achievement and speaks to these students’ determination and goal-driven attitude," said JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio. "I’m very proud of each of these seniors who made that commitment."
There are approximately 6,280 seniors in the Class of 2019, said Brent Lynch, the district's director of Pupil Personnel.
"Each year, JCPS schools are in session 175 days for students," he said. "For the four students who never missed a day since kindergarten, that's 2,275 days of school. For the other one, she was present, ready, and on time for 2,100 instructional days without an absence. When you think about that, it truly is remarkable."
More than 70,000 students have graduated from JCPS since 2010 and during that time, only 80 have had perfect attendance, according to district data.
Each of the five seniors will be honored at their school's individual award ceremony by the Jefferson County Board of Education at their July 16 meeting.
Name: Darvell Bricest
Age: 18
Schools attended: McFerran Preparatory Academy, Noe Middle School, Butler Traditional High School
Parents: Chauncy and Felecia Bricest
Favorite teachers: Butler High School teachers Alex McCoy and Addie Mazzone
Plans after high school: Attending JCTC and study manufacturing
Name: Gianna Cecil
Age: 18
Schools attended: Blake Elementary School, Schaffner Traditional Elementary School, Johnson Traditional Middle School and Louisville Male High School
Parents: Nancy and Richard Cecil
Favorite teacher: Male High School teacher Lisa Carson
Plans after high school: Attend Western Kentucky University of Louisville and major in journalism
Name: Elijah Collins
Age: 18
Schools attended: Carter Traditional Elementary School, Johnson Traditional Middle School, Butler Traditional High School
Parents: Kara Collins and Cliff Freeman
Favorite teacher: Butler High School teacher Larry Just
Plans after high school: Attend JCTC and become an electrician.
Name: Matthew Sutter
Age: 17
Schools attended: Coral Ridge Elementary, Highland Middle School, Atherton High School
Parents: Betsy & Michael Sutter
Favorite teacher: I have appreciated all my teachers!
Plans after high school: I will be joining the Army after school.
Name: Tori Vestal
Schools attended: DuPont Manual, Noe, Mill Creek
Parents: Donna & Troy Vestal
Favorite teacher: Dr. Randolph Wieck (AP United States History), Ms. Betsey Bell (AP English Language), Mr. Brian Hinds (YPAS Theatre) Mr. Richard Vaughan
Plans after high school: Pursue global health and international Affairs at a four-year university
The JCPS Class of 2019 graduation schedule can be found here.
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This story was originally published by JCPS on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.