Diploma Denied Over Graduation Gaffe - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather & Sports

There's a bit of a "diploma drama" going on between an Oklahoma high school and its valedictorian.

Just days before starting college, she is fighting to get that oh-so important piece of paper.

Prague school officials are refusing to give it up, because of something the teen said during graduation.

"She was in every extracurricular activity," David Nootbaar said of his daughter Kaitlyn. "She's been with the Kiwanis, with the bank on the bank boards. If there is anything to do, she does it."

"She just excelled beyond anything I would ever expect of her being my child."

But the issue is with her graduation speech given earlier in the year.

"Her quote was that when she first started school she wanted to be a veterinarian and that she's graduated and it getting closer to graduation people would ask her what do you want to do and she said. How the hell do I know I've changed my mind so many times."

Those words mirror a scene from one of the Twilight movies
 
Nootbaar says the audience laughed, she finished her speech to warm applause and didn't know there was a problem until she went to pick up the real certificate this week.

Nootbaar says, "Went to the office and asked for the diploma and he says your diploma is right here but you're not getting it. Close the door we have a problem."
 
He says the principal told Kaitlyn she would have to write an apology letter before he would release the diploma. a move dad believes is illegal.
 
"She earned that diploma she did all the state curriculum. Four years of straight As and 4.0s the whole way through," said Nootbaar.
 
Katy starts college in a few days on a full scholarship, making the administrators' decision even more appalling to her family.
 
The school had no comment. Prague Superintendent Rick Martin issued a statement saying, "This matter is confidential and we can not publicly say anything about it ."

Source: KFOR