A Laurel resident has been recognized by the Prince George's County Public School system for his appreciation of the importance of education.
Walter "Pete" Smith, 50, never received a high school diploma – but not by choice.
Smith grew up with learning disabilities. When he was 16, a principal at Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School, where he was a student, asked him to drop out because the school could no longer accommodate his educational needs.
Smith left school and worked a variety of restaurant jobs – including 17 years as a sandwich maker at the Tastee-Freez on Route 1 before it shut down in 2007 – but he never forgot the disappointment he felt about not being able to finish his education.
On Sunday, nearly 35 years after he was asked to leave school, Smith received not one certificate but two.
In a ceremony at Bethany Community Church in West Laurel, Smith was presented with a certificate of commendation from the school system, as well as a proclamation from the Prince George's County Council applauding his love of learning, "determination" and "strong work ethic."
County Councilwoman Mary Lehman, a Democrat who represents Laurel in District 1, said she was "so impressed and touched" when she heard Smith's story, which also included some time spent in a homeless camp after Tastee-Freez closed.
Today, with the help of his church community and through the advocacy of Ruth Walls, a parishioner at the church who works with local homeless people, he has his own apartment on Main Street and does volunteer work at the church.
Smith's story, Lehman said, "really is a great success story." There was just one missing piece in his mind – the diploma.
"I don't know about any of you, but if you ever had something you didn't finish, it just bothers you," Lehman said, before presenting Smith with the council's proclamation.
Walls then gave him the school system's certificate of commendation, signed by Superintendent Kevin Maxwell and wrapped up like a Christmas gift.
The certificate, mounted in a gold frame, recognizes Smith for his "understanding of the importance of education" and "ability to rise above the challenges that [he has] faced."
Walls recalled that when she first met Smith, and he was homeless, "I felt like he was an unarmed soldier, just on the streets, ill-equipped. But in a way, he was equipped, because he had his determination and he didn't give up."
Ann McGhee, minister of community life at Bethany Community Church, called Smith "one of the gentlest, big-hearted, determined men I've ever met."
She said he's been a fixture in the church community since he began to volunteer more than a year ago. "Whatever we need, he does it," she said. "I can't say enough about the guy."
Smith said the award "just means a lot to me. To me, it's like a high school diploma.
"It took 35 years, but I'm glad to get it," he said.