Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Storm knocks power out, Emmet graduation held in dark

Emmet's graduation is one those there will never forget.

For the first time in 40 years, according to Dr. Gene Ross, superintendent of the Emmet School District, the commencement ceremony was held in the dark.

This was because a thunderstorm passed through area Friday, May 16, knocking power out in Emmet.

There was emergency lighting in the Ross Gymnasium, but it only provided enough illumination to keep people from falling in the dark.

Tabitha Reed, the salutatorian, spoke first, telling the audience and her fellow students they had made it, though it's been an interesting four years.

"I'll miss all of you," she said.

Reed thanked her fellow students, their parents and teachers for sticking with them for all they've been through.

Without the love and support of their parents, she said, they wouldn't have made it.

"We're all nervous about what life has to offer," Reed said, "but I look forward to seeing you all in 10 years."

Valedictorian Kristol Barham addressed the audience saying no one was more proud than she about making it to graduation.

She, too, thanked the parents and teachers for their help along the way.

"I love you all," Barham said. "The past four years all we've been able to think about is graduating. We've always been together  like a family. We've learned from each other's mistakes."

Barham told her classmates she was proud of them, and reminded them it's important for them to be prepared for the future.

Frank Henson, an Emmet School District employ, was the featured speaker.

He shared part of the alphabet with the seniors, telling them what the letters A-G stood for, and will stand for in their life.

A, he said, is for acquiring skills and an education.

"No matter where," he said. "Learning is a lifelong process. There is a challenge ahead of you to learn and acquire skills and see what happens.

B, he said, is for belief in self.

"You are who you are," Henson said. "Be a success by your own standards, believe in yourself.

C, they were told, is for character.

"Your reputation will follow you throughout your life," he said. "Character is not just a moral issue, it's doing what's right, being a good, loving, caring, helpful person."

Determination is what "D" stands for, he said.

"Set your ambitions and go for them," Henson said. "Be determined you can do it and you will. If you fail or make mistakes, try again."

E is for enjoyment, he said.

"Enjoy life, have fun. Do what you enjoy doing. If all you do is work, work will become a four-letter word. You have to work, but have fun.

F, they were told, is for forgetting.

"Forget you think you know everything," he said. "Stop, look, listen and learn. You can learn a lot of things, and one day you'll look back and say your parents are smarter than you thought they were."

The final letter was "G", which stands for God, he said.

"Put God first. Let Him be your guide.

"Enjoy life, be successful and anything we can do to help you, we will."

Ross said a former Emmet graduate, Mary Martin, had provided a scholarship for the class. Martin was raised in Emmet and graduated from EHS.

Her generosity, he said, helped the district build the covered walkways, and she contributed to the construction of the gymnasium after the old one burned.

Martin's grandson, Jim, presented the scholarship. He said the Martin family had been involved with the Emmet district since the early 1900s.

Awards were presented to the seniors by EHS Principal Shade Gilbert, who said the graduates earned more than $280,000 in college scholarships.

In spite of the darkness, family and friends tried to take pictures of the graduation ceremony.

The electricity came back on about 30 minutes after the festivities ended.