CADIZ -The John W. Stephenson Center on Sunday at Harrison Central High School was packed with friends, family and staff for the graduation of the Class of 2012.
More than 125 students took their seats as Harrison Central Principal Mark Kowalski offered welcoming remarks and said he was "privileged and honored to welcome each and every student to the 13th-annual commencement exercises."
Retiring HCHS faculty member Pam Gibson served as the keynote speaker for the exercises.
Article Photos
Jeremy Kins
RETIRING — Retiring Harrison Central High School faculty member Pam Gibson was the keynote speaker on Sunday for commencement exercises held at the John W. Stephenson Center. She told the graduating Class of 2012 to “appreciate each day we’re given.”
She is a Cadiz High School graduate, and Kowalski said "through the advice of teachers and administrators, she turned her life into a highly successful and rewarding career for the past 35 years."
"The opportunity to speak to you today is an honor and no, I won't be asking you all to take out a half-sheet of paper, put your name and date in the top corner and won't be making sure you're writing in complete sentences," said Gibson.
She was an English and literature teacher during her time at the high school.
She offered life lessons by creating parallels between some of her favorite literature and the life graduating students are about to embark on.
"Remember Emily in 'Our Town,' who realized that too late and all too often we don't appreciate each day we're given. Remember Atticus Finch, who taught his children it's a sin to kill a mockingbird - those individuals who do nothing but make our lives more pleasant but suffer because they are different. Remember Anne Frank, who suffered the worst possible fate but had enough faith to believe that even though far too many people fail to act on it, that deep down we are all good," said Gibson.
"Thank you and to the soon-to-be alumni, from the bottom of my heart, I wish you the best life has to offer today, tomorrow and for the rest of your lives," said Gibson.
