In a world where everyone gets a participation trophy, something amazing happened on a highway in Wake County, North Carolina, where a father refused to let his son’s amazing accomplishments go unnoticed, for fear they might offend those who didn’t acheive the same level of greatness…
A dad in North Carolina brought his recently graduated son a billboard recognizing him as valedictorian even though the school refused to do so.
Garry Allmon purchased the large digital sign for his son, Joshua, on U.S. Highway 264 in Wake County, North Carolina to celebrate his four years of hard work.
The proud father posted a photo of the billboard on Facebook, which reads “Joshua Allmon will always be our Valedictorian.”
Allmon wrotee: East Wake High School and Wake County Public School Board may not recognize Josh’s hard work but we will. Please if you are on 264 heading east towards Zebulon take time to take a look at the big digital billboard just pass the East Wake exit.
Joshua’s school recently did away with naming a valedictorian and replaced it with the Latin honors ranking system as a “better way to recognize students who may have barely missed being named valedictorian or salutatorian by several decimal places,” according to News and Observer.
The entire school district announced in May it would be making the change starting next year, but according to Josh his school decided to do it earlier. So even though Josh said his transcript shows him ranked as number one, he wasn’t given the coveted title.
“It’s a stupid rule that will hurt students down the line, but it’ll accomplish their goal of making everyone feel equal,” he wrote on Twitter.
✅5.31 GPA
✅All-Conference in 2 sports
✅Beta Club President
✅NHS President
✅FCA Leader
✅Had job senior year
✅450 community service hours
✅NC State Chancellors Leadership Scholar
✅College tuition paid for
✅ First in my class
❌Valedictorian pic.twitter.com/bAeW54HbA1— Joshua Allmon (@joshua_allmon) June 12, 2018
In addition to graduating with a 5.31 GPA, Joshua participated in two sports, multiple extra-curricular activities and had a job his senior year. He even got his college tuition paid for.
The hard-working student plans to attend North Carolina State University in the fall to study chemical engineering and paper science engineering with a minor in business, according to WRAL.
Joshua told Fox News he didn’t think his dad would actually go through with the idea.
“I was flabbergasted when I first saw the billboard, and enjoyed the recognition that it gave, but was also appreciative of the fact that it allowed for a broader message/warning to be shared,” he said. – Fox News
In addition to proudly posting the billboard congratuling his son, Joshua’s father, Garry, an automotive tech instructor at East Wake High School, posted a moving video showing the high school students celebrating Jesus Christ, during their “Field of Faith” event earlier in the school year:
https://www.facebook.com/100009817990473/videos/520086041661991/?id=100009817990473
