‘Perfect’ Fort Mill seniors celebrate unique mark

Whoever said “nobody’s perfect,” never was an attendance clerk in Fort Mill.

The Fort Mill School District had two students graduating last Saturday, one at each high school, who wrapped up 13 years of education without missing a day. Terence Devone Jr. did it at Nation Ford High School, Joseph Flanagan at Fort Mill High School.

Devone moved to the district from New Jersey in the fourth grade. His family moved over Christmas break so he wouldn’t miss a day of school. He’s had a sniffle or two, and the occasional doctor offering a note excusing him, but nothing too serious. The closest he came to missing classes followed two surgeries in third grade for flat feet.

“I just told the doctor, no, I’m going to school,” Devone said.

Devone credits his parents with his recent honor, in early years just for getting him to school each day and later by demonstrating consistent, hard work. Devone works summers with his father making aluminum framing, while his mother works with the school district.

“I guess just my parents made me go to school when I was little,” he said.

Both Devone and Flanagan call their high schools a “mini college” that made learning interesting. Both are involved in Future Business Leaders of America and other groups. Devone studied marketing and sports medicine, with plans to study business and entrepreneurship first at USC Lancaster and then the main state campus in Columbia.

He’ll take the lessons from showing up at school every day to college and beyond.

“Just dedication, really,” Devone said. “I’m dedicated to what I do. I’m just trying to work the hardest I can and make the best of it.”

Like Devone, Flanagan first realized he might have a shot at perfect attendance in elementary school. Flanagan moved from Gaston County to the district for middle and high school.

“Once I realized I had perfect attendance through fifth grade almost, I realized I could go through high school,” he said. “I set that as a goal.”

Flanagan, too, never dealt too seriously with health issues.

“If there were times when I was sick, it always seemed to be over the weekend,” he said.

Occasionally, Flanagan could get through a tough day by being there more than half the school day, but by high school block scheduling made it tougher.

“Middle school was easier,” he said. “High school you had to do all the classes.”

While some kids stay home from school to play video games, Flanagan stayed at school every day in hopes of creating them. He studied computer science and business with plans to attend Central Piedmont Community College and then UNC Charlotte to learn game design.

Both students shared similar stories, up to the final days at school. Seniors finish exams earlier than underclassmen, so grades are ready in time for graduation. Unless seniors are on the verge of missing too many school days to graduate, they are excused between final exams and graduation.

Except seniors in line for perfect attendance.

While other students at the school the last few days had missed too many to stay home, Devone and Flanagan hadn’t missed enough.

“I stayed with them,” Flanagan said.

The South Carolina Department of Education announced there are 43 students statewide who will graduate this year with perfect attendance from at least first grade. Molly Spearman, state superintendent of education, said in the announcement those students are “wonderful role models” who took care of their health and studies throughout their time in school.

“This is a very unique accomplishment,” she said.

“To graduate from high school without missing a single day of school beginning in the first grade demonstrates remarkable dedication.”

This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 3:09 PM with the headline "‘Perfect’ Fort Mill seniors celebrate unique mark."