MARYSVILLE — Quin Kelly fidgeted with his cap and gown as he stood next to a stoic veteran who had military ribbons pinned to his vest and a Korean War cap on his graying head.
Kelly, a 19-year-old Marysville-Pilchuck High School student, is not an Indian and has never served in a war; yet on Monday he graduated with four elderly Tulalip war veterans.
The graduation ceremony was anything but typical. That’s not unusual for Kelly.
He has a knack for doing things his own way.
He drinks from an apple cider jug full of water that he totes around. He spent his fifth year of high school as the only student in a specialized program designed just for him. His career goal is to learn how to run a karaoke machine.
Kelly has Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder that makes it difficult to recognize social cues and boundaries. People with Asperger’s generally have average or above-average intelligence, but struggle socially. He also has attention deficit disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and anger management issues, said his mom, Rebecca Kelly Hartnett.
Graduating high school was a long, difficult journey for Kelly. There were many times his parents doubted he’d make it.
“There’s been good times and very challenging times,” his dad Richard Kelly said. “I’m pleased that he matured and gained some skills.”
Kelly could have graduated last year and earned a diploma just for special education students. But yearning for a traditional diploma, he stayed in school an extra year, collecting needed credits and attending classes with a tutor at Heritage High School in Tulalip. He said he wanted more education.
“Some of our kids don’t really think much about graduation and they’re just here to put in time,” said Dave Rose, principal of two small schools at Marysville-Pilchuck. “Quin has always had the idea in his mind he wanted a diploma. He was very credit-conscious.”
Due to a miscommunication, Quin missed his chance to march through Comcast Arena at the Everett Events Center on June 5 and receive his diploma during Marysville-Pilchuck’s commencement ceremony.
He didn’t let that stop him.
A few days later, he showed up at Heritage High’s graduation with his cap and gown, but he was turned away because he wasn’t actually enrolled at Heritage. That school focuses on American Indian culture.
Disappointed, Kelly’s mom called administrators seeking an alternative graduation.
They responded with a proposal.
Kelly could receive his diploma during a school board meeting, along with aging veterans who left high school early to fight in the Korean War and World War II.
Kelly arrived carrying his robe in a plastic bag and his Nintendo DS system in his pocket.
He pulled the black gown on over his dress shirt and slacks in the hallway, minutes before the meeting began.
Waiting on a folding chair beside his dad, he chewed Big Red gum and gulped water from his jug.
“Dad, tell me what side the tassel is supposed to be on,” he asked.
“I think the left,” his dad replied.
Turning around in his seat, Kelly shouted, “Hey Rose. What side’s the tassel supposed to be on?”
“Right,” the principal replied.
Kelly moved the red-and-black tassel to the right side and placed the mortarboard on his shaggy brown head.
He proudly stood beside the veterans, looming over them, during “God Bless America” and speeches about their wartime sacrifices. When they walked forward to receive their diplomas, Kelly tried to follow but was stopped by Rose.
He asked his principal for his diploma — several times — but Rose made him wait through a short speech about his quest for a diploma.
Kelly shook his principal’s hand, then the diploma was his — finally. He moved his tassel to the left.
Beaming, Kelly’s parents snapped picture after picture.
“You only get one high school ceremony,” his mom said. “It’s not the traditional ones like you see on TV, but it’s one.”
As they walked outside into the sunny June evening, Kelly tossed his mortarboard into the air.
“It feels good,” the graduate said. “Finally.”
Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.
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