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School bans uniform at graduation

WACO, Texas — A senior is being banned from wearing her Marine uniform at her high school graduation.

Rachael James said she still may try to negotiate with Gatesville High School officials but will get her diploma May 30 no matter what, possibly wearing her uniform under her graduation gown.

“I’m not going to fight it,” she said. “I really respect the school and a lot of the teachers there. I don’t want to cause them problems.”

The Gatesville school district requires seniors to wear black caps and gowns — except top-tier students, who wear white — for uniformity, superintendent Rick Copp said. The school also turned down an Eagle Scout’s request to wear his uniform, principal Ed Husk said.

Husk, a veteran with 15 years in the service, said he has nothing against the military but the uniforms are “just not appropriate for a high school graduation.”

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Kunert, who works in the Waco recruiting office, says he’s surprised by the school district’s stance on the issue.

“We were hoping they’d see her side of the story,” he said.

James credits the Marine Corps with giving her a future. Earlier this school year, the 18-year-old was on the verge of dropping out of high school, two credits shy of being able to graduate, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported.

Upon deciding to push herself to graduate, James says she took online classes at Texas Tech University at night, went to high school during the day and worked as a waitress.

After signing up with the Marines, she went to North Carolina for 13-week boot camp in February. James received about $30,000 after qualifying for the Montgomery GI Bill and another $50,000 in scholarship money. She will join the Marines as a food service specialist.

“I guess I’m just proud,” she said. “I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot in my life for only being 18. I want to walk across the stage in my dress blues.”