Emery County Seniors grad night

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

Emery High graduates 122 and Green River High School 14
Emery High commencement exercises were held on May 22. The theme for the program was, “We carry the power inside ourselves.” The graduates came into the auditorium in a processional. Justan Potter, studentbody president led the audience in the pledge of allegiance.
Tanner Petersen, class president welcomed the audience. She said when they walked through the doors of Emery High three years ago they wondered what might go right and what might go wrong. Even though a lot did go wrong, there were a lot of memorable experiences. One time at a debate meet students from a 5A school couldn’t believe that the students at Emery High all know each other. In their school they see new people every day. There are 122 graduates for 2014. Petersen recognized the students that will be joining the military including: Connor Burke, Korwin McPherrin and Dakota Curtis. She thanked the students from the MESS section for their support at athletic events.
She said Emery High was privileged to have four foreign exchange students this year and they learned more from them about other cultures than you ever could in a class room. The seniors maintained a positive attitude on the soccer team in their first season. Sidnee Conder was the only senior on the golf team and she made new friends. “Even if we’re on the right track, we will get run over if we don’t keep moving,” concluded Petersen.
Drexler Tanner was a co-Salutatorian his address was titled, “Together we Climb.”
Tanner told of the baseball game against Beaver in the first round of the state playoffs last season how they got the win against the home team. From there it was three games to the state championship, Millard, Beaver and Parowan.
He said they have received a wonderful education in their 12 years of school. It’s not been easy, at times they were coddled as they prepared for the future.
Tanner said everyone contributed to the win for the baseball team. On May 3, of this year back to Beaver again for the first round. The team beat Rowland Hall and then went up against Beaver again. This time the outcome was different, Emery dropped the game 4-3 to Beaver and found themselves in the consolation bracket. It wasn’t an easy road. The task was to win seven games in three days to become state champions. Rain delay caused the game against South Sevier to be delayed. The game against Gunnison didn’t begin until 10 p.m. and lasted until 1 a.m. The game against Manti was won in six innings and Millard went down in five innings again in the rain.
On Sept. 12, 1962, United States President John Kennedy gave the to the moon speech. He said America would make it to the moon, not because it would be easy, because it would be hard and America can do hard things. Doing hard things together makes it happen.
Tanner then related the games on May 13, Emery with four of the needed seven games for a championship was up against Beaver the team they had lost to in the first round. Emery was strong for seven innings and handed Beaver a loss. This advanced Emery to the championship game for Grand who hadn’t lost yet in the tournament and yet another elimination game for Emery. Grand pitched the same pitcher Emery had seen earlier in the season. The Emery team was able to lay-off the curve ball and scored big in this game. This advanced Emery to the true championship game with Grand at one loss and Emery with one loss. “We can choose to do hard things. We can help each other win. Grand was up by three runs. Everyone gave it everything they had,” said Tanner.
Everyone will be on different paths now and they will be more difficult. We can choose to go to the moon, Together we climb.
Co-Salutatorian Hayden Johnson congratulated the class of 2014. He said like all teenagers he put off preparing his talk, he’s good at procrastination. A talk should inspire as well as entertain so he went to the internet for guidance. He viewed a number of youtube videos about a flying cat and other subjects that probably weren’t going to help him with his talk. Finally he decided to tailor the talk to him and his classmates. He said the memories he has made while at Emery High have shaped him and he can’t describe the importance of these experiences. All of the graduates have great futures ahead, they are the future doctors, lawyers and Walmart greeters of the world. Trends will come and go, but memories will last a life time. According to the great philosopher Miley Cyrus, “We can’t stop, we won’t stop.” The staff at Emery High is smarter than they look and these graduates have learned a great deal from them said Johnson. High school is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.
Speech and debate classes taught him to express ideas. Johnson thanked his parents because they want what’s best for him. “You’re on your own, don’t screw it up. It’s scary. This is the starting line. It’s where you go from here that really matters. In the play of life, we all contribute a verse. Your best days are ahead, congrats, class of 2014,” said Johnson.
Honor student Carson Healy’s address was titled, Our place in the future. He said three months and five days ago he rode into a wash he didn’t see with his motorcycle. He had broken ribs and vertebrae. He was taken to Utah Valley Hospital. Within 20 minutes he was in Provo where the doctors were waiting for him at the door and had already viewed his x-rays. He said it was amazing to be in Provo that fast, 100 years ago that wouldn’t have been possible. A cowboy being bucked off his horse, was just out of luck. Four vertebrae as well as all his ribs but two were broken, but stable so he wouldn’t need surgery. He needed constant monitoring, after several days there were fluids built up in his lungs, but thanks to new technology and a quick procedure a tube was inserted to drain his lungs. Options like this wouldn’t have been possible many years ago. Technology is advancing rapidly.
While he was laying in the hospital bed, his cell phone kept him connected and he was able to stay in touch with his friends. “We can look back and see how advanced our world is becoming. People like us are responsible for the advances and changes of the future,” said Healy, “We can become the next doctor, engineer, architect, scientist, it’s time for us to take our place in the future.”
Banner Fauver, honor student’s address was titled, “Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.” Fauver said she has a five month old nephew that’s learning new things every day. Life is an adventure. He’s learned that if he screams his parents come running. He will learn how to walk and talk. Each year brings new knowledge. Knowledge is power. Some of the graduates will go to work or to college or to serve in a distant land, but all need to keep learning. She encouraged everyone to help others light their candles with knowledge.
Honor student, Sarah Collard’s address was called, “Dressed for Success.”
She said she had a friend who showed up for school one day with one tan shoe and one black shoe. She wasn’t ready for her day. “We need to be prepared for anything. We might look silly in a swimsuit in the South Pole.” She related a story how Mr. Moss started a fire in class that burned more than it was supposed to. That’s why safety goggles are a good idea. “Even for Mr. Moss things don’t go exactly as planned,” said Collard. She thanked her parents especially her mom for being as stressed out about school as Sarah was. Do your best, and remember, you’re never fully dressed without a smile.
Savannah Woolsey began her talk, “Veni, Vidi, Vici by taking a selfie. She too watched cat videos to prepare for her talk. In her research she discovered that the listener only finds pleasure in the last of a speech. Woolsey went on to say we are proud of the traditions of Emery High while graduation music played in the background. We can achieve the impossible, we have the confidence to succeed because we are from Emery High. If you’re from Emery High you can change the world. Congrats on all you’ve accomplished, continue to dream big and surprise people. “We are from Emery High and we have no reputation for being mediocre,” said Woolsey.
Sarah Roberts, Class Valedictorian’s address was called, “We carry the power inside ourselves.” She said school has been a crazy journey and it’s now time to find a place where they can fit in.
They entered high school lost and confused and now they are leaving high school as lost and confused as when the started. But they are also a little sad, nervous and excited. “Relax, it’s a start, and also a finish line.”
High school has been filled with good days and bad days. Calculus tests were always bad days. Bad days will continue into the future, but these days have also been some of the best days of their lives. Challenges they have faced together and also challenges they have faced alone when they didn’t know how they were going to make it. Graduating from teenage awkwardness into the world. The weight of the world will soon be on the shoulders of these graduates. But, they won’t give up and they don’t have super powers, they have the magic of Emery High to back them. There will still be villains to fight, but these graduates have the power to win, just ask the Emery High baseball team.
Principal Larry Davis presented the Emery High graduates to the board of education and Nanette Tanner and Marie Johnson presented the diplomas to the seniors.
The seniors then sang the class song, the “Halls of Emery,” afterwhich they left the stage as the newest graduating class from Emery High. The graduates met in the gym for pictures and there was a graduation party at the swimming pool.