"Commitment, dedication, and sacrifice."

These are the attributes of successful people, and all of the more than 100 adults who completed high school in the Cocke County Adult Education Program in 2007-08 have these attributes, said commencement speaker Mike Hannon.

The polygraph expert with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was introduced by his daughter, Sara, and he pointed out to the graduates that they have already displayed "commitment, dedication, and sacrifice."  Otherwise, they would not have finished school at the Dr. Hobart Ford, Sr., Adult Education Center.

Hannon advised the 105 graduates that they should continue their education.  "Don't be like me and wait 26 years."  The veteran law enforcement professional was referring to his graduation from Tusculum College after graduating from high school in 1971.

"Education is the vehicle that you use to drive you to your dreams," Hannon added.

Hannon also pointed out that his mother, Essie Barton, taught school for about 40 years.  "Other than my parents, the most influential people in my life were teachers," he said.  He advised the students that they should thank their teachers.

Thanking teachers seemed to be the unofficial theme of the May 22 graduation ceremony that was held at Cocke County High School's auditorium.  Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan said, "You didn't get here by yourself, so thank them," gesturing to adult education teachers.

McMahan said that the adult education graduation "is my favorite graduation," adding that "It's a long trip for you all, and you all made it."

The county mayor also said that thanks should be given to Cocke County School System Director Larry Blazer, who is retiring at the end of June.  McMahan said that Blazer has been "an inspiration" to him for many years.

Bryan Douglas, the director of the Cocke County Adult Education Program, said that without Larry Blazer the adult education program could not be as successful as it has been.

"Mr. Blazer and the Cocke County Board of Education have provided students with the opportunity to finish school through the GED program, Cocke County Adult High School, and the GED option at Cocke County High School," said Douglas.  "Without Mr. Blazer's leadership and support, these students would not have this opportunity."

On behalf of the adult education programs and the Cocke County Literacy Council, adult high school teacher Randy Winter presented Blazer with a token of appreciation to help him "to deal with some of the more difficult issues of retirement": a fishing rod.

Winter, who taught for many years at Parrottsville Elementary School where Blazer had served as a principal, went to Parrottsville High School and then to East Tennessee State University with Blazer.

Winter advised students that "you are judged by the company you keep.  Tonight, you've chosen very good company.

"If we truly are judged by the company we keep, I think I chose wisely in having Mr. Larry Blazer as part of my life's company."

Winter also described Blazer as being "a man who has devoted his entire adult life to teaching and to the support of better education in Cocke County."

In thanking the group, Blazer said, "I have devoted all of my life to education because I think it's important."

His final advice to the 2007-08 graduates was for them "to keep learning, keep reading."

One of those graduates will for certain be doing so soon.  Marina Ivanova, a native of Kazakhstan, will be going to college in the fall to pursue Tennessee certification in nursing.

One of the adult education center's small but growing population of international students, Ivanova worked as a nurse in Kazakhstan before coming to the US with her husband, Gary Allen, who is a native of Cocke County.

Ivanova began in the adult education center's English for Speakers of Other Languages class to improve her reading and writing skills in English, but she quickly moved into the GED program.  She recently received her GED, indicating that she is proficient in reading and writing English and she will be ready for the college environment.

The 2008 recipient of the Jesse Denton Memorial Scholarship, Darlene Jefferson, has already been heeding Blazer's advice about continuing her education.  Jefferson is a current student at Walters State Community College where she is nearing completion of her associate's degree in early education.

The Denton scholarship is presented in memory of the late Jesse Denton, who was a longtime educator and was the director of adult education in his native Cocke County upon his retirement in 2003.  He passed away in 2004.