Courtesy photos | Fairborn City Schools
Earnest Parker, a longtime Fairborn resident, received an honorary high school diploma at a recent Fairborn school board meeting.
Courtesy photos | Fairborn City Schools
Earnest Parker, a longtime Fairborn resident, received an honorary high school diploma at a recent Fairborn school board meeting.
FAIRBORN — Earnest Parker, a longtime Fairborn resident, was surprised with an honorary high school diploma at a recent Fairborn school board meeting.
On Thursday, April 6, surrounded by close family and friends, the school’s superintendent Gene Lolli and high school principal Waylon Stegall presented Parker with the diploma at the request of his family members.
A Fairborn High School graduate and family member of Parker reached out to the school to plan the event because “it was the one thing that Mr. Parker wished he could have done,” according to the Fairborn City School’s Facebook page.
Parker, 85, was unable to attend school when he was younger and instead went to work in the coal mines at age 12. Parker eventually moved on to work in plumbing for years afterward but never had the opportunity for a traditional high school education.
According to the post, Parker was surprised with the diploma and surrounded by close friends and family for this gesture of appreciation.
Contact Ethan Charles at 937-502-4532.
