The 81 adult graduates of Tooele County High School were honored Friday night with high school diplomas at the Grantsville High School auditorium.

Tooele County High School is the name used by the adult education program of Tooele County School District. With locations in Ibapah, Wendover, Dugway, Tooele and the Tooele County Correctional Facility, the adult education program allows adults, ages 18 and over, a second chance of earning a high school diploma.

"These students didn't earn a diploma the first time around," said Linda Conway, coordinator of adult education for Tooele County schools. "Most of them come to us needing just a few credits to finish."

Many of the students have overcome a variety of difficulties in their lives to take advantage of this second chance, and they take that chance seriously, said Conway.

The school's motto, according to Conway, is "the greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." The motto, rather than grade point average, determined the choice of students' speakers.

One of those speakers was Daniel Walker, who said he had waited 30 years for the occasion.

Walker dropped out of high school and joined the Marine Corps. There he said he fell into trouble, hanging out with the wrong crowd and having run-ins with the law. He married four times and joined the army, where he was injured while on duty. As a disabled veteran, Walker stayed home and played 'Mr. Mom' for a while. When he lost his leg, he thought he had lost his life. Friends and family talked him into going back to school.

"I have learned if you really want something you can get it," Walker said. "You just make up your mind and go and do it."

The student speakers also included Lolo Leaaetoa, Stacy Matravers, and Zareena Cattalla.

Leaaetoa recalled moving to Utah at the age of 9 with her family from Tonga. She said she did not think education was important. Leaaetoa drew laughter from the audience when she described how she told her parents, who understood little English, that the "F" on her report cards meant "finished."

Now that her children are older, Leaaetoa wanted to set an example for them. So without their knowledge, she enrolled in adult education classes while they were in school.

"I don't want them to make the same mistake I did," Leaaetoa said.

Matravers dropped out of high school her sophomore year and had her first child by the time she was 18. She overcame problems with drugs and alcohol with the help of drug court and eventually straightened out her life.

"I have come to know that knowledge is power," Matravers said.

Cattala was born in the United States but was raised in the Philippines. In July 2006, she moved back to the States but was a few high school credits short to attend college. In order to realize her dream of becoming a nurse, Cattala enrolled in adult education.

"The challenges I conquered have restored the self-esteem I lost," Cattala said.

Mike Johnsen, retiring Tooele County School District superintendent, was the guest speaker. Johnsen came to the stand and made the sound of a roster crowing into the microphone.

"We have something to crow about today," said Johnsen, as he congratulated the students on their achievement. "We are happy for your success."

Retired Tooele County Sheriff Sgt. Joseph Walker was invited to make a few comments at the close of the ceremony. Walker was instrumental in the starting up of the adult education program at the Tooele County Correctional Facility nearly 26 years ago. Walker recalled classes being held in the 9-by-10-foot phone room when no other classroom spaces were available. Walker was invited to help present diplomas to the graduates, including his son, Daniel Walker.

Altogether, 81 students received a high school diploma through Tooele County High School on Friday night.

"We continue classes until the end of June," Conway said. "We anticipate by then the total number of graduates to be near 100."

The graduating class ranged in age from 18 to 47, according to Conway.

"I really love this job," Conway said. "Working with these students as they overcome their obstacles and take advantage of this opportunity to make lives better is very rewarding."

tgillie@tooeletranscript.com