By Paul Kurtz

BOYERTOWN, Pa. (CBS) — Boyertown High School is honoring a senior who will graduate Wednesday with a 13-year record of perfect attendance.

From the day he first set foot in kindergarten class, 18-year-old Andrew Vaccaro has never missed a day of school. He became aware of his Ripken-esque streak after sixth grade.

“When I had gotten perfect attendance certificates and then my parents were telling me that we were gonna try to keep it as long as possible and hoping that I didn’t get sick.”

He did get sick here and there, but his timing was off.

“Every time I get sick, it was always over a holiday, like Christmas or Thanksgiving.”

By the time he hit high school, Andrew says his attendance record drove him on days when he flat out didn’t feel like getting up.

“No teenager, especially when you get to junior high and high school wants to go to school every day, but that’s what you gotta do. You just gotta get it done.”

He’s avoided illness, laziness and lately the good-natured taunts of classmates.

“I’ve been getting some crap from my friends about it. So like, how do you do it? How do you not miss a day of school in 13 years? It’s whatever.”

Vaccaro heads to college in the fall and says he will keep his streak going.