Staff Reports
THATCHER – The Gila Institute For Technology (GIFT) has rescheduled its “Meet the Instructor Night” for Wednesday, March 11. The event will be held at Eastern Arizona College’s Gherald L. Hoopes Activities Center from 6 – 7 p.m. and will be a come and go event.
GIFT previously canceled the originally scheduled date for the event of Tuesday, Feb. 25, in light of the recent tragedy involving three of its auto students.
“Our focus, our thoughts, and prayers are with our students, staff, and families of the three young men who lost their lives this last weekend,” said GIFT Superintendent Troy Thygerson when the cancelation was initially announced. “Counseling is available at EAC, Duncan, Pima, and Thatcher. Help us honor these outstanding young men and be of service to someone in your school or community this month.”
Pima student Mason Gann, 16, Thatcher student Kade Nelson, 16, and Duncan student Emmett Darnell, 17, were declared deceased at the scene Feb. 21 when they were ejected from an Eastern Arizona College van that rolled just west of Pima on U.S. Highway 70 while it was bringing the students back from a class outing to the drag races in Phoenix. Four other high school students, a college student, and the adult male driver were treated for non-life threatening injuries at Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center. The students were enrolled in an auto class through GIFT.
GoFundMe accounts have been set up for the deceased boys. Click on their name to go to their fundraisers.
