Point Pleasant Dad Allowed At Son's Graduation After Outcry

POINT PLEASANT, NJ — The father of a Point Pleasant High School senior will be attending his son's graduation Wednesday under an agreement reached with the school district, the dad confirmed to Patch.

Michael Ollendorf said he received a letter Tuesday from Point Pleasant Schools Superintendent Adam Angelozzi with an offer to allow him to attend the ceremony, with certain conditions.

"I am going to the graduation," he said. "There are some parts of the agreement I don’t agree with but for my family and everyone involved in the graduation I have agreed. It’s all good."

The agreement comes amid a social media campaign that called for a protest at the school for graduation, as reported by the Jersey Coast Emergency News Facebook page.\. Posts on the page say the protest is slated to include members of the Outlaw biker group.

Ollendorf said he does not want a protest at the graduation.

"I don't condone it and didn't have anything to do with it," Ollendorf said Wednesday. "It's all over. I'm going to graduation."

"To everyone who supported our family through this thank you, and for the people that didn’t I understand," he said. "Congratulations Class of 2025."

Ollendorf had been banned from graduation following conflicts with administrators over his son. One was in public at a football game in 2023. The second was in private, during a phone conversation that was not recorded. Read more: Dad Banned From Son's Point Pleasant Graduation Over Conflict With Administrators

The prospect of a protest raised concerns in the community, and Point Pleasant Police Chief Christopher Leonhardt issued a statement Wednesday morning to address those concerns.

"The Point Pleasant Police Department is aware of recent social media posts concerning the upcoming Point Pleasant Borough High School graduation ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, 2025," he said. "These posts have understandably caused concern among students, parents, school faculty, residents and community members."

"First and foremost, I want to assure the public that the safety of students, families, school staff and all attendees is our top priority. We are actively monitoring the situation and working closely with the Point Pleasant Borough School District, county officials and other law enforcement partners to ensure a secure and peaceful graduation event.

"At this time we have not confirmed any credible threats or substantiated the information suggesting that members of any motorcycle group plan to attend or disrupt the ceremony. However, out of an abundance of caution, we are prepared to deploy additional resources to the graduation venue and surrounding area as necessary.

"Our goal is to provide a visible, respectful, and effective security presence that ensures the event proceeds smoothly for all involved.

"We understand that social media can be a powerful tool, but it can also spread misinformation, speculation, and heightened emotions. We ask that the community remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information that may increase anxiety or distract from the significance of the day for the graduating students.

"We encourage anyone with concerns or specific information to contact the Point Pleasant Police Department directly rather than relying on social media commentary. We remain committed to transparency, professionalism, and the well-being of our community," Leonhardt wrote.

"Let's all work together to ensure that graduation remains what it should be — a proud and celebratory milestone for our students and their families," he said.