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Student Sues School District Over 'Participation Trophy' Diploma

3/7/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Makena Simonsen from Lynwood, Washington, filed suit against the Edmonds School District.
She alleges her diploma was a 'participation trophy'.
She earned a 3.78 GPA.
She reads at a first-grade level.
She is in her third year at Bellevue College and faces about $160,000 in debt, and the Edmonds School District denies wrongdoing and did not comment.

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Story summary

Makena Simonsen from Lynwood, Washington, filed suit against the Edmonds School District.
She alleges her diploma was a 'participation trophy'.
She earned a 3.78 GPA.
She reads at a first-grade level.
She is in her third year at Bellevue College and faces about $160,000 in debt, and the Edmonds School District denies wrongdoing and did not comment.