2024 marks yet another leap year with an extra day in the year. With only a one in approximately 1,460 chance of being born on this day, it is also the rarest birthday one can have. East Tennessee State University is pleased to celebrate a student who is part of the rare occasion.

“I learned about it in fifth grade, I remember in science class learning about it,” Gage Cylc said. “I was like ‘Oh, that’s why I am the way I am’ and it was an odd experience.”

Due to this self-discovery at a young age, Cylc was asked by his mother whether he’d like to celebrate a day before or after. He mentioned he was excited to celebrate a day earlier after making this decision as a child. The excitement lives on as he prepares to celebrate his 20th birthday a day early with friends and loved ones.

Cylc is a sophomore majoring in business and finance, and part of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, 20-year-old Cylc now lives in Knoxville. He decided to attend ETSU after he was informed of the school by his friends who attended before him.

Photo of Gage Cylc. (ShelC’ Black/East Tennessean)

Though the topic of his leap year birthday and celebration weren’t common topics of discussion for him, he mentioned how friends and family reacted to it in his childhood, and how his mother had planned for this golden opportunity.

“She found it was about to be leap day, and she actually could’ve had me the day before,” Cylc said. “But she decided to wait.”

After his mother decided to wait, Cylc was the only person born in Jacksonville that day. Because of this, he made the news with an article in the Jacksonville newspaper covering his rare birth date.

 

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