Published: May 15, 2008 03:51 pm            

Brownsburg student goes the distance

For most students, stomach sickness the night before a school day means spending the next morning at home.

Not for Austin Brown.

The Brownsburg High School senior — then a sophomore — wasn’t about to let a stomach bug make him miss a day of school for the first time. Brown’s father, Brownsburg resident Jeff Brown, remembers Austin’s queasy close call.

“I drive him to school the next morning and tried to talk him out of going but he said he wanted to try it,” he said. “When he got to school he got sick again. The teacher let him lay on the floor in first period, but he made it through the day.”

Brown made it through that day as a sophomore and every day after that. In a special presentation this week at Brownsburg’s senior night ceremony, Principal Bret Daghe awarded Brown with a plaque for perfect attendance from first through 12th grade.

Perfect attendance awards have become routine to Brown. He received his first plaque upon leaving Eagle Elementary School and at the end of his middle school days, received a $50 savings bond. His near-absence as a sophomore proved to be an exception to an otherwise healthy school career.

“It’s nothing that we’ve done, he didn’t take any special vitamins or anything,” Brown’s father joked. “He’s just fortunate that he’s never been sick. I’m sure there were some days when he didn’t feel the best, but he’s pretty committed and determined. He’s just got his mind set that he’s going to do it and he followed through with it.”

Brown’s longevity has carried over to both athletics and the workplace. He didn’t miss a day during his two and a half years of employment at Papa Murphy’s Pizza in Brownsburg. On the tennis court, Brown won a sectional title last season as part of the Bulldogs’ No. 1 doubles duo, and strives to attend every practice.

“Austin is a great kid and its nice knowing that he’s going to be there every day for practice,” said Eric Esterline, Brownsburg boys’ tennis coach. “He sets a good example for the other kids and hopefully he can carry that trait throughout life.”

Upon leaving Brownsburg, he plans to take his attendance streak to Ivy Tech, where he will major in informatics.

kevin.leibrock@flyergroup.com

        

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