High School Valedictorian Denied Diploma Due To R-Rated Word in Speech

Kaitlin Nootbaar is the valedictorian of her high school class and a straight-A student. Although she has graduated, she will not receive a diploma until she apologizes for using the word “hell” in her graduation speech, Today Moms reports.

The Prague High School student from Oklahoma submitted her speech for approval and indicated that she would be using the word “heck” instead of “hell.”  When the time came for her to deliver the speech to her classmates and their families, she slipped and said “hell” instead.

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Kaitlin’s father David explained to Oklahoma City’s KFOR, “Her quote was, ‘When she first started school she wanted to be a nurse, then a veterinarian and now that she was 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.’” Kaitlin’s line was inspired by the movie The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

David insists that the audience was amused by the joke. The Nootbaars have not received complaints from the audience about the speech, which was given in May. Kaitlin was not aware that there was even a problem with her speech until she went to pick up her diploma after it did not arrive in the mail. Her school principle told her that she will not receive her diploma until she writes a letter of apology.

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Kaitlin refuses to apologize and her parents support her decision, because they do not believe that she has done anything wrong. Kaitlin will begin college with a full scholarship in a few days.

Do you think an apology is necessary? Would you be offended by the word “hell” in a high school speech? Leave a comment.