Tyvion Campbell, an 18-year-old graduate of Chicago Tech Academy, says her diploma was withheld and that she was removed from her graduation ceremony after performing a split on stage.
As captured in a video that has since gone viral on social media, Campbell could be seen taking the stage with flair, waving to her friends and family as she prepared to receive her diploma. The ceremony was held at the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Chicago last month.
When she then proceeded to drop into the splits on stage, some in the audience could be heard bursting into cheers. However, the school administration was less than pleased by her unexpected dance move.
Campbell says that when she jumped back up and reached for her diploma, it was denied.
“I tried to reach for my diploma, and I didn’t get it,” Campbell said. “I was confused at first. I thought they mixed up my name.”
However, there was no mistake.
“The principal Miss [Zataya] Shackelford told me that I need to think of a way to make up for what I’ve done. This was supposed to be a celebratory moment, and I made it about myself,” Campbell said.
Campbell was shocked to later be escorted out of the ceremony and was left in tears by the incident.
Campbell, who graduated with a 3.5 GPA and has plans to study business administration in the future, says she still hasn’t received her diploma.
“It was disappointing,” she said. “It really hurt my feelings. I cried, and I couldn’t even continue the graduation.”
The 18-year-old says that she was not given any guidelines stating that celebratory dances were not allowed at the graduation ceremony.
"We did receive rules, but the rules had nothing to do with what you can and cannot do while you walk across the stage," she said. "There wasn't any written rule about what you can and cannot do."
