BRADENTON, Fla. — With many graduations underway, one high school grad is leaving with a unique award — 13 years of perfect attendance. 


What You Need To Know

  • Tristian Watson, 18, has never missed a day of elementary, middle, or high school

  • He leaves for U.S. Army basic training in July

  • More Manatee County headlines

Tristian Watson, 18, has never missed a day of elementary, middle, or high school. 

“There was a couple times I would catch a cold or something, but it wasn’t really major,” says Watson.  

Attendance streaks run in the family. His mother, Christine, went though nine years of school without missing a day. 

“The hardest part was getting Tristian out of bed,” says mother Christine Watson. 

Now, Tristian is following in his father's footsteps, by enlisting in the U.S. Army.  

“My heart is so full....I’m so proud of him,” says Christine. 

Watson is set to leave for basic training in July. He says he doesn’t plan on missing a day of training either.