Can Easter eggs last twelve years? Four Class of 2008 graduates can attest to the fact that they can.

Debbie Lindsey who is now retired after 30 years teaching first grade at the Washington-Wilkes Primary School, had one volunteer in particular by the name of Kermit Hocutt that would think of unique ways to inspire and challenge the students. In the 1995-96 school year, he presented all the students in Mrs. Lindsey's class a sugar Easter egg complete with a diorama inside. He challenged the students to keep the egg until graduation at which time, if they could show the egg to be intact, he would do something "really special" for them.

Four of the first grade students graduating in 2008 have come forward with their eggs. Don Durden, who has since moved to Elberton and is a 2008 graduate of Elbert County Comprehensive High School, was the first to appear. Ashley Burt, Josh Goldman and Rebekah Echols, who graduated Friday night from Washington-Wilkes also appeared with their eggs.

True to his word, Mr. Kermit did present each student something "very special."

(Pictured above are of (l-r, from top left) Josh Goldman, Debbie Lindsey, Ashley Burt, Kermit Hocutt, Don Durden, the thank you note Don wrote as a first grader, and Rebekah Echols.)