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EVHS says goodbye to the class of 2007

Matt TerrellVail CO, Colorado

GYPSUM – Frank Williamson graduated 60 years ago in Englewood. He doesn’t remember much about that day.He remembers a little more about his daughter Della Williamson’s graduation, who surprised the family by giving the commencement address and not telling them beforehand, he said.”They wondered why I was sitting up front. I was supposed to be in the back with the W’s,” Della said.The Williamson family has been through plenty of graduations. They were at Hot Stuff Stadium on Saturday to watch Della’s sixth and last child, Sarah Hoza, graduate from Eagle Valley High School. She’ll be majoring in art and high school education at Western Washington University in Bellingham.”It’s sad, but she’s going to do great things,” Della Williamson said.The ceremony for Eagle Valley was the archetypal graduation experience. There were future-themed speeches kissed with nostalgia from valedictorian John Huffman and salutatorian Alaina Sheehy, much like the one Della Williamson surprised her family with years ago. There was a shot of fatherly advice from Principal Mark Strakbein, who encouraged students to develop a belief system, keep in touch with family and find a career they’re passionate about, something they won’t hate doing for the rest of their lives. Then there’s the music – a couple of peaceful songs by the choir and several rounds of “Pomp and Circumstance” from the band.It was the kind of ceremony straight out of memories and photo albums, the kind parents have seen quite a few of in their days. It was hard to find a parent, especially a grandparent, without a graduation tally.Eve Cooper flew in from Sedalia, Mo., to watch Marshall Roscoe, or grandchild No. 7, graduate.”I have two more to go,” Cooper said. She graduated in 1944 and remembers how good it felt to get out. She also remembers that her class was a lot smaller than it could have been.”Some had to go to war, and some didn’t come back,” Cooper said.Fay Bratz flew in from Wisconsin to watch her granddaughter Amy Thompson graduate. Bratz, sitting with her sister Pat Horton, said neither of them graduated from high school, and it wasn’t a big deal back in the old days. They were dairy farmers and went to work on the farm.”I do remember prom, though – I went to that,” Bratz said.John Thompson, Amy’s father, said he graduated with 500 kids at a large stadium in Santa Ana, Calif., and was proud to see Amy graduate Saturday. Amy will be throwing the discus at Iowa State University this fall.”Eagle Valley High School has been a very good education institution,” Thompson said.============================================Eagle Valley High School Class of 2007Class Motto: “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but rising up every time we fail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.Class flower: Sunflower.Class colors: Black and white.Number of graduates: 130.Valedictorian: John Huffman.Salutatorian: Alaina Sheehy.==========================================Staff writer Matt Terrell can be reached at 748-2955 or mterrell@vaildaily.com.


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