Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon High School Seniors Graduate May 19

Gurdon's Class of 2000 graduated Friday, May 19 with the Gurdon High School gymnasium packed with family, friends and well wishers on hand to offer congratulations to the 55 graduates.

Highlights from the night's ceremony were the induction of the Academic Hall of Fame members and the nervous speeches of the brave young graduates.

Academic Hall of Fame inductee, Beatrice Bragg Stafford was presented with her plaque, roses and a golden apple pin by her son, Harold Stafford.

He then conveyed to the audience the lengths to which his mother had worked for her bachelor degree from Henderson State University. With an extensive 24-year career as an elementary educator, Stafford praised his mother for her strength as she began her college career at the age of 33.

Commenting further, Stafford told the audience the family motto, "Never through in the towel."

Beatrice Stafford, spoke briefly in acceptance as her husband of 59 years, Ellis Stafford, children and grandchildren looked on.

Academic Hall of Fame inductee, Sarah Strong Davidson was posthumously inducted. A beloved educator, who taught through several grades for a career spanning 1936 to 1981, was lost to cancer six years ago.

Davidson taught through out the grade levels with few breaks, but persisted in the Gurdon School District for the entirety of her career.

Accepting on her behalf were five of her granddaughters; April Kuhn, Amber Buck, Stephanie Vaughn, Amy Wells and Lyndsey Davidson. Supporting granddaughters not able to attend were Lisa Wells and Erin Wingfield.

Expressing through tears their grandmother's determination, strength and stoic nature, Buck stated "The day before she passed away, she continued to outline things to do for the next day."

From co-valedictorians, Brandi Escalante and Andrew Wilson who conveyed the enormous amount of work before this years graduates.

"I am my follower and my guide," said Escalante. "You construct the path of your life." Escalante, who is bound for Baylor University, verbalized her hopes to have "more journeys" with her fellow classmates as time goes on.

Wilson, co-valedictorian, challenged his classmates. Bound for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Wilson expounded, "Whatever happens  dream on."

Cassie Lynn marked the memories of her fellow classmates by quoting the most well known philosopher of youth today, Dr. Seuss. From the book, "The Places You'll Go," Lynn recited the relevant poetic phrases. "Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way."

There were 27 out of 55 graduates who had received cumulatively, $529,000 in scholarship funds. More than half of this graduating class has already received admission and assistance for their college careers.

After the Academic Hall of Fame inductions, Brandon Gattis expressed in part the class's feelings of loss and remembrances for the late Patrick Stone. Stone passed away in the Spring of 1999, in a motor vehicle accident.