Dec. 14, 1999
For many students, college graduation itself is an accomplishment.
But we found one prospective graduate who's never missed a day of school.
That's right, 17 years, and 100-percent attendance!
Education Specialist Nadine Wimmer reports.
When Lenny Gray looks back over his school years, there's one thing he'll always remember--
He never missed a day.
As a youngster in grade school he started the tradition.
By high school, he won recognition
Now, approaching college graduation, he has a record few can match and no one can beat.
Lenny Gray/Student: "NEVER MISSED, BEEN THERE EVERY DAY, ALL DAY. IT'S JUST ENGRAINED IN ME, SCHOOL'S IMPORTANT, I GO THERE TO LEARN."
Reporter: "YOU DON'T GET SICK?"
Gray: "RARELY.'
Reporter: "YOU DON'T GO TO THE DENTIST?"
Gray: "I SCHEDULE IT AROUND SCHOOL."
Reporter: "NO VACATIONS?"
Gray: "VACATIONS IN THE SUMMER."
He even planned his wedding around a break in school.
He's never sluffed or slept in, but he did come close to missing..once.
Gray: "I BROKE MY ANKLE ABOUT 12:00 AT NIGHT, GOT IT CASTED UP, COULDN'T GET TO SLEEP THE WHOLE NIGHT BECAUSE IT HURT SO BAD, BUT ENDED UP GOING TO SCHOOL THE NEXT MORNING ON CRUTCHES."
Gray's typical report card is straight A's, no absenses, not even a tardy. It's harder to document in college because they don't take roll. But even his professors acknowledge this is the standard Lenny keeps.
Dean Painter/BYU Professor: "HIS BEING IN CLASS EVERY DAY, EVERY PERIOD, EVERY SESSION THAT WE HAVE IS SIMPLY A BY-PRODUCT OF WHAT HE IS, HE'S VERY DISCIPLINED."
Incidentally, Lenny is graduating in broadcasting.
He hopes his resume tape and his attendance record will impress a boss.
"IF SOMEONE KNOWS YOU'RE AS DEPENDABLE, YOU CAN BE RELIED ON TO GO TO SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY, OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU GET TO THE WORK FORCE, YOU'RE GOING TO CARRY THAT WITH YOU."
To put perfect attendance in some perspective, Lenny attended approximately 3,060 consecutive days of school.
