Prank: 'Jack S. Hitte' award for senior

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BANGOR, Pa., June 22 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania graduate slipped a senior prank into the ceremony by having himself recognized for winning the "Jack S. Hitte Award for Academic Excellence."

Ethan Rosenberry, 18, said he put the name of the fake award -- designed to resemble the profane term for "nothing" -- on his form for the Bangor Area High School graduation program after not being awarded any scholarships and the phrase was read aloud during Thursday's ceremony, The Express-Times, Harrisburg, Pa., reported Wednesday.

"I was laughing and thought I got jack (expletive), so I wrote I got the Jack S. Hitte Award," Rosenberry said.

Rosenberry said the phrase made it past proof-reading by the school's guidance office and was read at the ceremony by Principal Robert Vlasaty. He said the prank was noticed and he was told he would have to speak to Vlasaty before receiving his diploma.

The graduate said he received his diploma this week.

"Whenever you do something like this, whenever you take the risk, you have to assume there will be consequences," Rosenberry said. "If Mr. Vlasaty wasn't such a great guy, there could have been huge problems."