Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott's graduating class is 59 strong

The graduation of the Class of 2007 was a lesson in the five senses. Five of the top seniors offered up speeches on touch, sight, smell, taste and hear.

Jordan Haynie began with smell. She said the thought of Prescott High School will always memories of smell - including old lockers. But a new smell has recently assaulted her senses - the smell of freedom. Haynie said that smell had grown stronger as graduation approached.

I believe in each of you, she said. I believe in the Class of 2007.

Then she asked her classmates a question.

Do you smell that? Its the smell of victory and success.

Brody St. Clair offered up his memories of touch. He said that he believes members of the class have touched the lives of each other, perhaps in ways that have yet to be discovered. St. Clair ended his speech with an observation of his own - that every member of the class would make a mark on the world.

Amanda Smallwood then embarked on a discussion of the sounds, including the sound of the future beckoning to the class. She recalled sounds of tears for classmates lost and sounds of cheers at the many school functions.

Brittany Cason drew a laugh from the crowd of family and friends when she announced that shed be quoting a pretty smart man. She said the man said, Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what youll get.

Cason said life is truly just like that and that she and her classmates had tasted many flavors - from the gooey taste of love to the sweet taste of success. But Cason said she believes the class has just begun and encouraged her classmates to sample all life has to offer.

She pointed out that a new taste was soon to come - the sweet taste of freedom that would come with the diploma.

Laken Haynie then turned the discussion to sight. She talked of the things shed seen and those whod helped her see more clearly.

I see a bright future ahead for all of us, Haynie predicted. We are finally here. Congratulations. We did it.

There were announcements of scholarships and awards, ranging from local club awards to four-year tuition scholarships at state and private universities. The total for the class was more than $600,000.

Following graduation, members of the class were invited to Project Graduation. The all-night event featured games, food, prizes and fun for members of the graduating class.

The goal was to provide a safe place for graduates to share one last night together before embarking on the next step of their journeys.