Commencement back flip lands graduate in hot water
03:41 PM CDT on Thursday, May 27, 2004
Laura McKnight / Special to Houma Courier
HOUMA -- Though he met graduation requirements and attended Tuesday nightÂ’s commencement, one Ellender High graduate did not receive his diploma after crossing the stage.
Johnathan Cohen / Houma Courier
Ellender High School graduate Kevin John Carlos gets an earful after landing a back flip on stage during the schools commencement Tuesday night at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center. Carlos received three days of work at the school for his stunt.
Instead of simply walking across the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center stage, Kevin Carlos stopped center stage to perform a back flip.
Though many audience members oohed and applauded, some of CarlosÂ’ classmates were not so impressed with the stunt, Principal Marilyn Schwartz said.
"A lot of kids were upset about it," she said.
Schwartz said a number of graduates were unhappy that the act happened during their ceremony, fearing the two-second back flip would eclipse their moment of recognition for years of work. Graduates expressed anxiety that "thatÂ’s how their graduation would be remembered" and portrayed in the newspaper, Schwartz said.
"Two hundred and forty-two kids were doing what they were supposed to be doing," Schwartz said. "The whole class suffers for it."
Following the flip, Assistant Principal Ronald Stoufflet called Carlos back to the stage, where he was directed to remain backstage until the ceremony concluded.
As Carlos left, the audience erupted in boos. Stoufflet quieted the crowd, reminding them that the ceremony was a serious event.
"They are cheapening our graduation program for everyone. I donÂ’t like it," Stoufflet said.
Schwartz said she is holding CarlosÂ’ diploma with the consent of his parents. Carlos had not yet received his diploma, because graduates do not receive the actual document, only diploma covers, during the ceremony.
"He can come get it under certain circumstances," Schwartz said. "He needs to come do some work for me at the school."
However, the principal said she has not yet seen Carlos.
CarlosÂ’ mother, Diane, said her son must also apologize not only to school board members, but to the mother of the graduate following him in the ceremony, because she missed hearing her sonÂ’s name called due to the uproar following the back flip.
Diane Carlos said Kevin told her he would do a back flip during the ceremony, but she did not believe him. Now, itÂ’s too late to take the action back, she said.
"I honestly didnÂ’t think he was going to do it," CarlosÂ’ mother said. "He was wrong, and he shouldnÂ’t have done it, but he did."
Slow News Day
