Duncan graduates from Lighthouse High School

Receiving diploma from Superintendent Steve Carlson

Duncan finished his high school requirements on March 14, 2014 and graduated early from the Lighthouse High School in Price. High school was not an easy adventure for Duncan. He attended Canyon View Jr. High for his ninth grade year and played football for the Canyon View Cougars (wearing red - it was confusing for a devoted BYU fan and former Grantsville Cowboy to cheer for cougars wearing red.) 

For his tenth grade year, he attended Emery High one semester, homebound one semester and the last two semesters at the Lighthouse. Duncan and Mrs. Biano did NOT hit it off very well at first but they ended up being best of buds. He appreciated her friendship along with Mr. Thompson (teacher), Mrs. Crowe (secretary) and Maria (custodian). They made school bearable and fun at times. Mrs. Biano runs a VERY tight ship at her school. It's a team effort. 

Thanks to Mrs. Karleen Biano for everything

One day when I returned Duncan back to LHS after his welding class and before heading down to Emery for football practice, we noticed an intense cleaning happening. Someone had broke the rules and EVERYONE was cleaning inside and outside. I mean - polishing the outside garbage cans and windows - deep cleaning! Duncan, even though he was not there when it happened, had to mop the floors before he could leave for practice. The rules were strict but the kids knew it was okay. They had sooooooo many fun activities and field trips that other schools could not do that it made it worth it - fishing, biking the swell/bbq, float-your-boat at Huntington Lake/bbq, Hogle Zoo, Boondocks, tubing on the Green River/bbq, etc.   

It was quite the sacrifice to make sure he was at his welding class at USU-Eastern, attending Lighthouse in Price, practicing and playing sports for Emery High with only one vehicle for over a year but it was worth it. One of John's aides, Alberta Bianco, volunteered to take Duncan to school in the mornings for the first year. She and Duncan built an eternal friendship with so much laughter, stories, and love. (Yes, she is Mrs. Bianco's mother-in-law). She would give Duncan a gift for being her grandchild every holiday or just for the heck of it. It usually consisted of a large bag of sunflower seeds, gum, a large Hershey white chocolate with almond/toffee and money. As his mom, I was able to spend thousands of hours waiting in the car for him over the four years. 

He attended LHS graduation commencement ceremonies to walk with his class on Thursday, May 22, 2014. From beginning to end, it took 30 minutes which included a keystone speaker, talk from Valedictorian, diploma presentations, and the walking in and out of the 35 graduates. No long boring meeting - short, sweet and to the point Bianco-style. Now Duncan has the world at his feet and has the potential to accomplish anything he wants if he stays focused on his goals.

Proud siblings

We are proud of him. Marcie and Corbin traveled to watch him walk for the official graduation and receive his diploma from his good friend, Superintendent Steve Carlsen. Those attending graduation on Duncan's behalf were: Grandma Watkins (and Grandpa Watkins in spirit), Marcie, Corbin, Grandma & Grandpa Hardman, Gerri, Steven, Shirley, Benjamin, Brittany, John, Cynthia, Mark, Savannah, Wynter, Hunter, Micah, Lincoln, Levi, Charlotte, "Grandma" Alberta Bianco, Cindy Marchello Fisher, (lady from DT), and us of course.