Emery High graduation was held on May 25. Principal Steven Gordon announced the processional. The audience rose while the graduates came into the auditorium.
Emily Ussery welcomed everyone she said the class had two state titles this year including Boys swimming and girls golf. There were 60 honor students, three Valedictorians, four amazing foreign exchange students who fit in perfectly at Emery High. “Emery High has changed us for the better, we’re excited to begin our future.”
Garret Stilson, honor student said there are a lot of unhappy people who want to be better at something, better employee, better father, better student etc. “So do it, you’re not a tree just pick yourself up and do it.
“Your life is 10 percent of what happens to you and 90 percent of how you react to what happens to you. Stop making excuses, trials will pass. They may pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass. They may pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass. Don’t stay the same. Don’t hang out with the chickens when you can soar with the eagles. Make a goal to be the best you that you can be. Keep moving forward go after it. Whether you are 18 or 67, it’s never too late to chase your dreams. Congrats to the class of 2017,” said Stilson.
Simone Burton honor student talked about the thousands of memories she has of high school. She remembers getting lost at school as a sophomore and sitting in the senior’s spot at lunch. Then she remembers some sophomore sitting in her spot when she became a senior. She remembers freezing at a football game and when the team scored a touchdown, they leapt for joy. She remembers the practices for the junior prom promenade. She’s going to miss all those things. Graduation has arrived all too fast. The homework, the getting up early. She’s going to miss it all, it’s the end of an era. Mr. Moss said every class has its own personality. Their class is slightly rebellious. “Strive to make your future the best,” said Burton.
Ty Mecham, honor student, said Winston Churchill said it takes courage to get up and speak. Mecham said they are just finishing what’s probably the easiest of times. Just worrying about school. Now they will have more to do and move onto bigger and better things. Mecham said they need to do something that frightens them. It takes courage to do something. They may make mistakes and be afraid. He likened the class to the Lord of the Rings. They faced a hopeless battle where mystical powers were being used. The class of 2017 has faced battles, ACT tests, sports events, “Our story doesn’t end with this victory over high school. We will have careers, college as we become successful adults and citizens.
Mecham said not to give into your fears like in Lord of the Rings when they were encouraged to fight, This day we will fight. “A day may come when our courage fails, but it’s not this day, we will not give into our fears,” Winston Churchill also said we need the courage to sit down and listen and Mecham ended his talk.
The senior chorus students sang the song, “Because I knew you,” from Wicked.
Allyson Woolsey, Valedictorian said she’s been through 13 years in the Emery School District. She’s been counting down the last days of school. They’ve seen a lot of changes in their years at EHS. They had a new principal. “Don’t be part of the crowd. The time here has flown by. In sophomore English they tried to teach us that Eye of the Tiger is not a play by Shakespeare. We will now move off to college with roommates and work on the freshmen 15, everyone but Erin Hurst who will build muscle. “It’s OK to say I don’t know. When your parents ask when you’re going to move out, you can tell them, ‘I don’t know.’ Woolsey instructed the students to wear their sunscreen and that Bill Nye will save the world.
Kaden Allred, Valedictorian said their journey starts with one step. Grades do matter. They’ve learned discipline and to place first things first. They’ve learned how to deal with one another. They’ve learned how to react. Friends have helped shape who you are. Some friends might let you down, but others might help you rise higher. You can’t be defined by your physical body. Move forward. Our parents have learned to be patient with us. We will get things done, but it might be at the last minute. We’ve learned to handle loss. We have learned to cheer when the winners walk by. John Wayne said, Courage is being afraid, but saddling up anyway. We’re ready to begin our next adventure.
Aubreyona Migliori, Valedictorian, said she’s enjoyed her last week of school, she had a nap and ate ice cream every day. She had graduation practice with all the seniors who gave her advice on her speech. Keep it short. Be quick. Thirty seconds is all you’ve got. She said it was hard to figure out what to say at graduation. She decided to tell everyone her advice. Wake-up, eat breakfast and brush your teeth. If you don’t wake up you won’t get anything done, if you don’t eat breakfast you will starve, if you don’t brush your teeth you won’t be able to get a job. It’s your adventure, it’s up to you to fill in the blanks. “We’ve got like 62 years ahead of us, make them great years, make sure these high school years weren’t your best. Conquer the world. Alexander the Great was a great leader his empire expanded from Egypt and into India. How much more do we have than they did. News spreads quickly. When Alexander the Great was asked who would inherit his empire, he said let it go to the strongest. Conquer your own life. Make the years ahead the greatest. We’re not entitled to the future, it’s a responsibility,” said Migliori.
Principal Gordon said he had some big shoes to fill this year following Larry Davis as principal. He’s learned a lot this year associating with the crazy teenagers and young adults. He’s been there as they’ve learned life lessons. He’s watched this class as sophomores to now owning the halls and knowing the exact time to step into class before the tardy bell rings. This class has achieved a lot, two state championships in girls golf and boys swimming, runner-ups in cross country, girls swimming and girls basketball.
Gordon gave some quotes from the movie Up. The wilderness needs to be explored. Cross your heart and promise. There will be new adventures, work, school, marriage. Life can be tough, make sure you have a spare chocolate bar to get you through. Make sure you thank the people who have helped you get here. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. You never know what life may hold. Gordon presented the seniors to the school board saying they have met all requirements set forth by the school and the board of education.
School board member Tracey Johnson accepted the class and wished them success.
Emery 2017 graduation nights
Garret Stilson, honor student. Patsy Stoddard, Editor