Quilt Helps Inola Graduating Seniors Remember Childhood

High school graduation is always a special time. Kind of a sad time for those of us with high school seniors.

But some lucky Inola seniors will be excited and wrapped up in memories and nostalgia taking them back in time to when they were nine years old.

Every year, school teacher Sandra Tate and the other fourth grade teachers at Inola Elementary have their kids work on a quilt.

It's an Oklahoma themed quilt. Everything on it has something to do with our state.

"I love the idea," 4th grade teacher Sandra Tate said "The kids are learning about Oklahoma history, they're learning about the symbols of Oklahoma while they're playing."

It's a lesson, even soon to be high school graduates, like Jerry Jones remember.

"I did this one right here, Paige Younger, she goes to our high school still, she did this," senior Jerry Jones said. "A girl that moved to West Virginia, she did this one."

Part of the reason they remember, is the quilts are special. When the fourth graders are finished, the quilts are saved.

Then, eight years later, when the kids who made the quilt are about to graduate from Inola high school.

"We have a chance to win it," Jones said.

A special drawing is held during the final senior assembly before graduation. Students whose little hands helped make the quilt and who are now teenagers, have a chance to win it.

"It's very special," Tate said. "I've seen some cry before. I've seen some get really excited."

Yes, teenagers get excited about winning a quilt.

"No one really wants it to keep them warm at night," senior Katey O'Quinn said. "It's just cool to look back."

For 21 years, the Inola fourth grade teachers have saved the quilts and helped some lucky graduates wrap themselves up in memories.

Taking them back to the fourth grade and back to their childhood as they move forward with the next stage of their lives.

There are four, fourth grade teachers at Inola Elementary, so during the senior assembly, there will be four lucky winners.