Forty-nine graduates of Alba-Golden High School concluded their public school education, which was 12 years in the making, as they collected their diplomas the night of May 31 at Wagstaff Gymnasium in Tyler.

The evening belonged to the happy graduates and their proud families, who lingered in the warm night air, long after the red mortar board caps were flung, for congratulatory hugs, high-fives and photographs.

High School Principal Michael Mize said he was “inspired and excited” about the future of the Alba-Golden Class of 2019 before certifying that every one of them had completed the necessary coursework to earn a diploma.

In an upbeat address, class salutatorian Nathaniel Kumm stated that the people he encountered at Alba-Golden High School “have impacted my life in nothing but positive ways” and he told his classmates that “each of us has the potential to do something great, not only in our lives but the lives of others.”

Valedictorian Grace Bizzell noted that her high school years contained many ups and downs, and she thanked her family and those of her classmates “for supporting us every step of the way.” She urged her fellow graduates to “celebrate what you’ve accomplished, but look at what an inspiration you can be for others.”

Quite a few Alba-Golden students graduated with a head start on their futures.

Counselor Julie Cole noted that many students in the Alba-Golden Class of 2019 graduated not only with a high school diploma, but also left as college sophomores through the school’s dual-credit program with Tyler Junior College. Two students graduated from Alba-Golden with an associate’s degree from the college.