01/13/2026
This weekend, we had the honor of celebrating an incredible milestone during our first family brunch of the year. Helen Claunch was recognized in a special graduation ceremony that marked much more than a diploma—it marked a promise kept.
As a young woman, Helen always promised her father that she would finish school. Life took her in a different direction when she chose to start a family, and she put that dream on hold. Years later, after her children were grown, she made the decision to go back and take her GED—and she aced it.
For nearly 10 years, she kept this achievement to herself. When she finally shared it with her daughter, she explained that graduating was a wish her father had always had for her—and one she was determined to fulfill.
Today, in a beautiful and emotional moment, her daughter presented her with her diploma, celebrating perseverance, love, and the power of never giving up on yourself—no matter how long it takes.
Congratulations, Helen. Your story is an inspiration to us all.
