More Than a Diploma: Cache High Adult Ed Graduates Celebrate Triumph and Tenacity

Dappled sunlight filtered through Castle Manor’s large windows, casting a glow on Cache High’s 2025 Adult Education graduates. Families and friends beamed as the graduates descended the stairs to the familiar strains of “Pomp and Circumstance.” Or, at least, the beginnings of “Pomp and Circumstance.” Shortly into the procession, there was a whine of feedback, and then the speaker gave out! 

For a moment, the graduates marched in silence. Then, someone in the audience began humming the tune. Within seconds, he was joined by others. Eventually, the entire room hummed the anthem together — a moving expression from the community that had supported these graduates throughout their journeys. The audience repeated the familiar tune until each graduate reached their seat at the head of the room, then burst into enthusiastic applause. 

It was a heartwarming beginning to a ceremony honoring a group of individuals who overcame extraordinary challenges to reach this life-changing moment: receiving their GED. Cache County Board of Education President Teri Rhodes took the podium and shared the story of her grandfather, a hard-working man who had to drop out of high school to support his family. 

“My grandpa was never able to go back and earn his degree,” she said. “But today, you get to fulfill his lifelong dream. The sacrifices you have made to be here are worth it. People with high school GEDs earn more and are more successful throughout their lives. You are changing your family’s culture and future today.”

Niki Johnson, Cache High Adult Education Program Coordinator, expressed the deep honor she felt working with the graduates. 

“Your determination was larger than the challenges,” she said. “Fear was not strong enough to stop you from doing what you said you would do. This room is full of tenacious, powerful individuals who are making themselves, their families, our community, and our world a better place by doing the work and showing up when it matters most.”

Teacher Sarah Dana agreed. “You have to show up to level up,” she said. “I’m so proud of each of you for showing up every day.”

For their part, the graduates regarded their mentors with a variety of expressions. Some faces radiated joy with bright smiles. Others expressed amazement, seeming overwhelmed by the moment they had so long yearned for. Many wiped away tears.

One of the requirements for graduation was writing an essay on the meaning of earning a high school diploma. Johnson shared some of the students' responses. 

“Acquiring a diploma is not merely a goal, but a basic necessity,” one wrote. “It marks a new chapter in my life. With my diploma in hand, I will embark on a path of endless possibilities, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resilience necessary to navigate the hardships of the world and make a meaningful impact on others.”

As the students moved their tassels from right to left, the hall erupted with cheers. Mentors, families, and friends showered graduates with hugs, balloons, and flowers. Several graduates cited these loved ones as sources of inspiration and motivation to finish the program.

“I find fulfillment in setting an example to my younger brother to never give up,” one shared.

Another graduate discussed his daughters, saying, “Obtaining my diploma is a critical step in my life. It shows my resilience, dedication to my children, and commitment to my future. The diploma is not just a piece of paper. It’s a symbol of my journey for many years, my struggles, and my determination to succeed… I want them (my daughters) to see that even when we make mistakes, we are able to fix them with hard work, dedication, and determination. I’ve never been so proud of myself as I am right now.”

His daughters were clearly proud of him, too, running forward and throwing their arms around him. He held them close and beamed as they took photos together. For them, and so many others in the room, this wasn’t just a graduation. It was living proof that resilience, community, and a quality education transform lives.