Blaze Myers' hot start to this season's Rush Wingless Sprint Car Series left him having to decide between attending his high school graduation or the Sunday races at the Tri-City Raceway Park. Missing the race would mean giving up a chance to earn much coveted points in the hunt for the championship.
He chose the race.
He chose the race.
He is near the top of the leader board and he just didn't want to lose momentum.
Instead of being salty about Myers' decision, Franklin principal Dr. Christina Cohlhepp decided to roll with the punches. After a suggestion from Denise Phipps, director of student support services and a friend of the Myers family, Cohlhepp embraced her student's decision.
After sending off 143 graduates into the world Sunday evening at the school's commencement ceremony, Cohlhepp raced, with Phipps to the raceway in order to personally deliver the 144th diploma to Myers who was just a few tenths of a point away from graduating with honors.
Myers, who has been racing since he was in kindergarten, had no idea this was going to happen.
Instead of being salty about Myers' decision, Franklin principal Dr. Christina Cohlhepp decided to roll with the punches. After a suggestion from Denise Phipps, director of student support services and a friend of the Myers family, Cohlhepp embraced her student's decision.
After sending off 143 graduates into the world Sunday evening at the school's commencement ceremony, Cohlhepp raced, with Phipps to the raceway in order to personally deliver the 144th diploma to Myers who was just a few tenths of a point away from graduating with honors.
Myers, who has been racing since he was in kindergarten, had no idea this was going to happen.
When Cohlhepp arrived, raceway announcer John McConnell had already begun telling the crowd that Myers had skipped his graduation to be at the track. "(He's) a young man with his priorities all set," McConnell said as Myers stood in front of the crowd in his cap and gown. Myers thought that was the extent of it and that his mom had arranged for him to be embarrassed in front of all the race fans.
McConnell asked Myers if he recognized anyone walking across the track and then Myers spotted Cohlhepp. "I know who that is," he said into the microphone and then told everyone it was his principal.
"I was confused when they kept saying 'she's coming.' I thought they meant my mom," Myers said.
"We didn't want you to miss your opportunity to receive your diploma tonight," Cohlhepp said.
McConnell asked Myers if he recognized anyone walking across the track and then Myers spotted Cohlhepp. "I know who that is," he said into the microphone and then told everyone it was his principal.
"I was confused when they kept saying 'she's coming.' I thought they meant my mom," Myers said.
"We didn't want you to miss your opportunity to receive your diploma tonight," Cohlhepp said.
It was a quick moment in front of the crowd with Cohlhepp handing over the diploma, pinning a flower to his gown and the two posing for a few pictures. Then they headed back to the pits so the races could resume. Within minutes Myers was back in his race overalls working on a tire for his race car.
Four generations of Blaze's family were on sight for the race and the impromptu commencement.
"It was awesome that she (Cohlhepp) was willing to come out and do this," said Brandi Myers, Blaze's mom.
"It's not just one race. It's obviously important to him and his family," said Cohlhepp, who had one more request of Blaze - "I told him that he has to come in first."
Pictures and a story on Franklin's formal commencement is available here.
Jill Harry, Long-time reporter for the Derrick and News-Herald, contributed to this article.
"It was awesome that she (Cohlhepp) was willing to come out and do this," said Brandi Myers, Blaze's mom.
"It's not just one race. It's obviously important to him and his family," said Cohlhepp, who had one more request of Blaze - "I told him that he has to come in first."
Pictures and a story on Franklin's formal commencement is available here.
Jill Harry, Long-time reporter for the Derrick and News-Herald, contributed to this article.
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