Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Class of '04 remembers what shaped it

Prescott's "Little Bud" sports arena was packed with families, friends and well wishers for the 2004 commencement ceremonies Friday, May 14.

Prescott High School sent 75 graduates out into the world, with nine of these students addressing the crowd on the ceremony's theme, "The Things That Shape Us".

The speeches began with how family and friends supported the Class of 2004, preparing each and every student for the challenges they would face in the future. It was said this is a time to reflect on the years spent in Prescott and the effect it's had on their lives.

The 13-year journey began in 1991 when a group of excited, but scared, children left the confines of their families to venture to Kindergarten. Here, they got to use jumbo crayons and safety scissors, while getting to know one another. Recess was a time of fun and laughter, setting the foundation of friendships to come.

Lessons learned in Kindergarten, it was said, would stay with the students the rest of their lives.

From Kindergarten it was on to primary school, where everyone had the students' best interest at heart, but the apprehension the children felt was nothing compared to what their families went through.

The knowledge and experience of families helped guide the students. "We remember vacations, holidays and the quality time we spent together, said Madeline Taylor.

While family is important, friends were the next most influential aspect of each of the Class of 2004's lives. Without friends, it was said, life would have been less meaningful, as with friends they laughed and cried together, got in trouble and encouraged one another.

However, each of the students also learned from the community as a whole. Prescott gave them the opportunity to learn, accept challenges and be inspired. Living in Prescott helped broaden each of their horizons, with the education they received and the experience they gained. These experiences helped prepare them for college, taught them to make the right choices and serve their community.

The motion of the community gave each of the young people a chance to excel academically with the honor card program. They learned the rules fo fair play and the small town values picked up in Prescott will remain with them always.

Finally, it was time to choose a college and career after high school. The senior year brought the class closer together, with more memories made in this year than the others  memories to last a lifetime. Leaving the halls of PHS behind, the Class of 2004 has cheered its last for the Curley Wolves.

With high school over the students knew they could no longer rely on their families for everything, said Aaron Tosch. "Those who enter the work force will be responsible daily for their careers. We will all miss our families and the community that shaped us.

"Years from now we'll look back and remember these words: enjoy it while you can, high school is the best time of your life."

PHS Counselor Paula Cossey named all 20 of the highest honor and honor graduates, acknowledging the scholarships they earned. Two members of the Curley Wolf football team were awarded athletic scholarships to Arkansas Tech University. One member of the Wolverette basketball team received a combined athletic-academic scholarship to Bethany College in Kansas.

As a class, the students were offered $775,000 in scholarships and accepted $410,000 in scholarship money.

PHS Principal Carroll Purtle ended the ceremony saying this is "a truly exceptional class." He then presented the class for graduation, which was followed by mortarboards being flung into the air as the "students" were first announced as "graduates".