Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Davis Is Keynote Speaker To Emmet Graduation

Emmet Kindergarten teacher Diane Davis told the Emmet High School Class of 2001 of three stepping stones they will need to get through life during graduation ceremonies Friday, May 18.

Of the 11 graduates, six of the students began school in Emmet in Davis' classroom. The year was 1988 and it was her first year teaching school.

Davis told the group that respect, integrity and an attitude of learning were the three stepping stone they would need to succeed in life.

She reminded the students that respect is earned when it is first given out.

The class was encouraged to keep their word and maintain their high level of integrity.

Davis said truth is given out everyday and it was important that they continued their attitude of learning which started at Emmet.

She encouraged the seniors to use the stepping stones to achieve what they wanted from life.

Davis encouraged the class to "Be what you want to be. Do what you want to do."

She reminded the students they will now face tribulations and trials and the rest of their lives should involve them reaching out and touching others.

Davis followed Emmet Valedictorian Katie Davidson who told her classmates they didn't realize how much they were losing.

She told the other 10 seniors they had gained knowledge, experience and maturity during their years at Emmet and they would never form bonds with another group of people like had been formed among themselves.

Davidson finished by telling her fellow students to remember their determination it took to finally get to their graduation, for them to hang onto love, their lives are only what they make of them and God has plans for each of their lives.

The evenings speakers began with Rose Martin, who was Salutatorian.

Martin told her classmates they were ready to move on now after learning many things at Emmet Schools.

She stated they should all try to stay in school, continuing their education, because knowledge is power.

Emmet Senior, Jim Faulkner made presentation of Davis following the speeches they contained the senior's names and a photo of the original six who began in her classroom.

Other seniors at Emmet were Alexis Banks, Amanda Hodges, Toni Beard, Jillian Harris, Edward Harris, Demarione Muldrow, Nicholas Ward and Brandon White.

The seniors were presented to the audience by Emmet High School principal Shade Gilbert and diplomas were handed out by board president Jack Faulkner.