When East Juniata High School (McAlisterville, Pa) senior Scott Dunn awoke from his coma on May 28, he realized that he had missed his high school graduation while in a hospital following a May 22 car accident. That's when his principal had an idea.
ABC 27 in Harrisburg, PA reported that with a graduating class of 90 at the small Central Pennsylvanian high school, Principal Benjamin Fausey wanted to recreate the graduation that Dunn had missed. Much like the scene that had played out late in May, the school's auditorium was decked out last Tuesday for graduation night.
Dunn's graduation night.
The recreated graduation had the same pomp and circumstance as the previous graduation. Complete with students decked in academic wardrobe, the graduation had speakers and the traditional tossing of hats.
With nearly half of the graduating class in attendance, ABC 27 reported that Fausey got to walk down the aisle, just like his classmates did several weeks prior.
Dunn was reportedly in a car accident on May 22, a few days before the scheduled graduation. Dunn said that he lost control of his vehicle on his way to a track meet. Six days later, he woke up from the coma.
“I remember waking up in the hospital and asking my mom what day it was. She told me it was the 28th,” he told ABC 27. “First thing I said, I looked at her and said, ‘I missed my graduation’.”
With the accident and graduation behind him, he told the station he was unsure what is next for him as he considers going to college or joining the military.
“I’m speechless,” Scott said. “I don’t know how to even explain it. I’m speechless to know that this many people are behind me.”
