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The students of Centralia High School heard from the two newest members of the Distinguished Alumni during a school assembly on Friday.

The first honoree is Dr. Clara Rouse Voss, Class of 1962, who spent 44 years in education starting as a teacher and principal in Centralia before moving to California.   The second honoree is Dave Clement, Class of 1957, who had a career of over 60 years in engineering.

Dr Clar Rouse Voss talks to students at Centralia High School during an all school assembly Friday. Photo by Pat Hodges.

Voss told the students she was truly humbled to join the awesome list of past Distinguished Alumni.  She said she was proud to be from Centralia and proud to be a graduate of Centralia High School.  Voss says she left Centralia well-prepared.

“I strive to be the difference.  You can make a difference by talking and helping, but to be a difference you have to roll up your sleeves and do some work.  So, my namesake, how I sign my e-mails, is ‘Be the Difference’.”

Voss says she continues to follow what happens in Centralia and says she looks forward to seeing many of the students in the audience do great things.

Dave Clements talks to students during the Centralia High School Distinguished Alumni program on Friday. Photo by Pat Hodges.

Clement shared growing up on a farm in rural Walnut Hill before embarking on a career in the military and as an engineer on projects around the country and world.  He encouraged students to make their own choices of what they do with their lives.  Clement said they have a place in this crazy world where they can make a wonderful contribution, they just have to find it.

“Will it be easy?  Absolutely not.  You’ll likely suffer disappointments along the way.  Count on it. The question is not whether you will face adversities, the question is what are you going to do about it.  Will you give up and say ‘I can’t do’, or will you work your way through the issues?  Just remember this, you are a valuable person.”

Clement added accomplishments are great, but they don’t measure your self-worth.

Both Voss and Clement were then honored at a dinner at the Centralia Cultural Society.