Kameron Cooper knows lots of words, but “absent” is not in his vocabulary.

Cooper, a senior at Hugo High School, has been recognized for having perfect attendance since kindergarten.

With an average of 170 days per school year and his 13 years, including kindergarten, he’s about to close in on 2,210 days of being present.

Cooper said he was raised in a family with a good work ethic and it rubbed off.

“My mom instilled in me from a young age that school was my job and it’s important to attend,” he said. “My mom told me that to be successful in anything, you have to be present... and on time.”

According to Cooper, who has never even been tardy to class, being early means being on time. “If you’re on time, you’re late,” he said.

“There’s no excuse for missing,” Cooper says. “I’ve been sick real bad, but still came to school.”

Cooper has maintained a 3.5 grade point average and plans to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where he just recently signed on to play college football. He’s considering a career in sociology with the desire to become a marriage counselor. “I’m a people-person. I enjoy helping people.”

With the hopes of continuing the streak of perfect attendance in college, Cooper said the motivation to be successful is what drives him.

According to Hugo School Superintendent, Karen Lyles, Cooper is an outstanding student. “Kameron is such a great student and has participated in most all the sports

Hugo offers,” Lyles said. “He has a positive attitude and is very well-mannered ––you never see him without a smile on his face.”

Cooper is the son of Aster Cooper and Trealious Cooper.