A surprise September graduation pulls out all the stops. The high school principal, the district superintendent, a packed house and an official diploma.
This one-of-a-kind commencement is for a one-of-a-kind person, 98-year-old Paul Little. Little grew up in our community and attended Dallas Center High School until his junior year, but before graduation, he had to step back from his schooling to support his family, meaning he never got to graduate.
“I was not the best student in the high school, and sometimes the teachers got on me about that, but we got along,” shares Little.
Eighty years later, Paul Little received he’s well deserved DCG diploma at a surprise commencement ceremony.
“It’s nice to know that after I don’t know how many years, I finally graduated,” says Little.
“There were a lot of neat people in the room celebrating a wonderful man,” says Dr. Scott Blum, DCG CSD Superintendent. “Giving him an honorary diploma from the Class of 1946 is pretty awesome stuff.”
Here’s where Paul’s incredible story reaches a new level. He’s paying it forward to the next generation, financial support in the form of scholarships to our graduating seniors.
“Education is very important these days, more so than probably in 1946,” says Little.
“His endurance, his love for his family, his love for his wife came through today,” adds Matthew Blackmore, DCG High School Principal. “I’m just honored to be part of this process, and our students are going to be the ones who will flourish for a long, long time.”
50 thousand dollars to the DCG Education Foundation, thousands more to our neighbors at Panorama, the legacy of Paul Little will continue for generations to come.
“I don’t think it’s too dramatic to say that Paul Little is having an impact on the future and they are walking the halls at DCG High School,” shares Blum.
Sure, the honorary DCG diploma is a token of our thanks, but it’s nowhere near enough. Paul Little is a difference maker. At 98 years old, he’s found a way to connect the generations. We are lucky to call him a friend, a partner, and a supporter of every single student in our district.
“As far as I’m concerned, there are good schools, but I think Dallas Center Grimes is, if not the best, one of the best districts around, and I am very pleased to be a part of that,” says Little.