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Few among the crowd noticed when Hunter Wittrock made his way from the stands in his familiar power wheelchair to a discreet area where he would transition into a walker.

But everyone noticed and erupted in thunderous cheers shortly after he began walking down the 150-foot stretch to accept his Kingfisher High School diploma.

With laser focus and determined strides, Wittrock slowly made his way past his classmates and the crowd with therapists Erin Scammahorn and Kim McSwain by his side.

Hunter is the youngest of triplets with older siblings, Hayden and Hannah, born to Jeff and Heather Wittrock.

His parents, along with other family members in the crowd and his fellow triplets in the stands of graduating seniors wiped away tears of joy and expressed overwhelming pride May 16 as they witnessed Hunter accomplish his goal.

“Initially the idea came out of the blue,” Hunter said. “They only see me in my wheelchair and I wanted to show them.”

Hunter was diagnosed at an early age with cerebral palsy, which affects the tone and movement of his muscles.

He has endured 15 orthopedic surgeries on his hips, feet, legs and back, as well as a skin graft starting when he was only 18 months old.

Confined to a wheelchair most of his life, Hunter understands difficulties and how to overcome them.

Despite limitations, he was involved in band, FFA, leadership, photography and was senior class reporter during his time at KHS.

While involved in photography, Hunter said, his teacher mounted a camera to his wheelchair so that he was able to take photographs.

It would be cool to take pictures at summer camp, he commented.

Hunter has attended the Oklahoma Firefighters Burn Camp at Lake Hudson as a camper for nine years and as a volunteer last year, Heather said. The camp is for children with burns or disfiguring injuries, she said.

“It is a week of love, where kids are not judged or isolated because of their appearance,” Jeff said.

It’s the highlight of the year for Hunter, he said.

“We share stories and support each other,” Hunter said.

So when Hunter decided last August to walk on graduation day, he knew it would be a challenge, but he was up for it.

He wanted to surprise everyone and it would be a tightly-kept secret with only a handful of people who knew.

“In September, Hunter and his parents revealed his plans to walk and told me it was a ‘secret,’” said Paula Leffingwell, Kingfisher High School counselor. “I was so excited.”

His arduous nine-month journey began.

At home and at physical therapy sessions, Hunter determined he would do whatever it took to accomplish his goal of walking.

The first step would be to begin standing in his walker every night for an hour to prepare his bones and hips for the weight and motion of walking, Scammahorn said.

“I knew if he could do it with his busy schedule then that meant he was really committed and he was going to do it,” she said. “And he did it.”

As graduation got closer, Hunter began to take his first steps.

Because loud noises can cause Hunter’s body to become more rigid and make walking more difficult, his therapists told him to focus on something in front of him as he put one foot in front of the other. So, Hunter said, he focused on a tree and looked straight ahead to the finish.

His therapists also arranged for Dr. Branson Kester and his staff to come to therapy as a “pseudo-crowd” and cheer him on, so he would be prepared, Jeff said.

“I didn’t begin to actually walk until March,” Hunter said.

Then the pandemic hit and threatened to put a halt to in-person graduation ceremonies and all Hunter had worked so hard for.

Although it was very disheartening, it didn’t slow Hunter down. He kept practicing and walking more and more steps every day….just in case.

“I knew I couldn’t control what would happen, but I kept practicing even when it was hot with the mask and everything on,” he said.

Then the good news came: There would be an in-person graduation after all.

It would be different than previous ceremonies. Instead of being held in the APB, the Class of 2020 would graduate at the football stadium.

Graduating seniors sat in the home stands while family members and other guests - a limit of 10 per graduate-were seated on the field.

With the good news came increased intensity in training.

With a graduation date set, Scammahorn said, Hunter practiced almost every weekday.

“He showed up every time with a smile on and when we would tell him it was enough for the day, he would say, ‘no, let’s go some more,’” she said. “He worked really hard.”

During the final weeks, Hunter practiced his walking up to two hours most days of the week and had two practice sessions at the football field the day before graduation, Heather said.

“I would wait for everyone to leave to keep it a secret and then I would practice,” Hunter said.

After all the ups and downs and hard work, graduation day finally arrived.

“As we were helping him into his walker, Hunter told us, ‘This is going to be a good day,’” Scammahorn said.

The last student to accept his diploma, as Hunter began his walk, some in the crowd didn’t immediately realize he was not in his wheelchair.

Wondering why it was taking him so long to pick up his diploma, Hunter’s grandpa, Greg Farrell commented to his wife, Debbie, “He needs to kick it in gear.”

Then suddenly, Debbie, aka Grammy, could be heard throughout the stadium as she joyfully expressed, “He’s walking!”

“I was happy when everyone cheered, because I wanted it to be as perfect and natural as possible,” Hunter said.

“Seeing Hunter walk at graduation was such an uplifting and positive experience,” Leffingwell said. “All four years of high school he never once complained about anything.

“He is truly an inspiration to us all.”

Without Erin Scammahorn and Kim McSwain, it would not have been possible, Jeff said.

“We want to express a big thank you to them.”

They not only helped Hunter accomplish his dream, but their help during the ceremony allowed Jeff and Heather to witness all three of their children’s accomplishments at graduation.

Hayden and Hannah were valedictorians and Hannah gave the welcome address.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better day,” Heather said.

Both Jeff and Heather agreed it was a blessing from God.

Hunter plans to attend Redlands Community College now that he has his diploma in hand.

“I want to do something in the medical field, hopefully nursing,” he said. His story has gone nation

His story has gone nationwide on social media and multiple media outlets since graduation day.

Although he never expected all the attention, he is happy to share something positive amidst news of the global pandemic, he said.

When asked how it is that he always has a smile on his face despite the many obstacles he faces, Hunter said, “I can handle my attitude…. There are some things I have no control over, but attitude is one thing I can control.”

His advice for conquering obstacles and living life to the fullest:

“Remain determined, set goals and stay positive.”