Brighten Your Day

High School Recreates Graduation For Student Who Recently Woke Up From A Coma

June 21, 2016

When Scott Dunn recently awoke from the medically-induced coma he'd been in after a car accident, he was heartbroken after realizing he'd missed his high school graduation.

So his classmates gave him a do-over.

It was just a month ago that East Juniata High School seniors met in their school's auditorium for graduation. Last week, they did it again.

Scott's car accident was on May 22, just three days before graduation.

"I remember waking up in the hospital and asking my mom what day it was. She told me it was the 28th," he said. "First thing I said, I looked at her and said, 'I missed my graduation'."

The school's principal, Mr. Fausey, called Scott's mom Karen and said that everybody wanted to do something special for him.

More than half of Dunn's class (about 45 students) went back to school. During summer. After they graduated.

Students donned their caps and gowns and sat in the front of the auditorium. Scott's parents, Karen and Scott Sr., sat front and center. After brief speeches, Scott's name was called. Only Scott's name. He walked across the stage as the audience erupted.

A graduation for one.

"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."