When it comes to being absent, three Marion County students don’t know what that word means.
That’s because over the past 13 years, they’ve never missed a day of school. For the record, that’s 2,340 days present out of 2,340 days of school (give or take a few hurricane days).
Kevin Chang and Leela Sharma at Forest High School, and William Turner III from North Marion High School, have never missed a day of school from kindergarten through their senior year. All three students graduate next month with the highest attendance rate in the district for the Class of 2020 – not missing a single day of class during 13 years of school.
Kevin Chang started kindergarten in 2007 at South Ocala Elementary and continued to Dr. NH Jones Elementary, Osceola Middle and Forest High Schools. The 18-year-old plans to continue his education in veterinary science at the University of South Florida. He is the son of Tim Chang and Mi Ra Han, of Ocala.
Leela Sharma, 17, began school at Madison Street Academy then advanced to Howard Middle and Forest High. She plans to attend the University of South Florida to pursue a career in medicine. She is the daughter of Prem and Tommie Sharma of Ocala.
William “Trey” Turner III started as a kindergartener at Fessenden Elementary and also attended Reddick-Collier Elementary School. He then advanced to North Marion Middle and North Marion High. Earlier this month, the 18-year-old earned an Associate of Arts degree in medicine from the College of Central Florida and plans to enroll at the University of Florida to pursue nursing and beyond in the medical field. His parents are William Jr. and Zarah Turner of Ocala.