Each Jordan High graduate received a surprise gift at commencement Tuesday night: a Palm Pilot.
All 650 students graduating from the Sandy school, plus all 125 teachers, counselors, administrators and secretaries, got one of the handheld computing devices from an anonymous donor.
The model of Palm Pilot given to students, the m515, which has a color monitor, retails for $299, according to the Palm Pilot Web site. Multiply that by 775, and that's a donation with a retail value of about $232,500.
Though large donations are not uncommon at high schools, handing out expensive trinkets to so many is. No other high school is known to have received such a gift, said Marty Nielsen, director of the Jordan Education Foundation, the fund-raising arm of Jordan School District that typically takes in big donations.
"It was an unusual situation," he said. "Very much appreciated, but unusual."
Indeed, principal Marilyn Richards said she received a call from a woman "out of the blue" one day, asking if she could anonymously donate Palm Pilots to Jordan High graduates and workers.
"I went, 'Oh, my heck!' " Richards said. "Whether (the donor) has any (ties) to Jordan High School or not, I have no idea . . . but I sure am very pleased."
The donor insisted her company receive no accolades about the donation. "They just wanted our kids to have a gift," Richards said.
Most students didn't know the Palm Pilots were coming, Richards said. And when the presents were announced at commencement, parents, graduates and other spectators were bowled over.
"It's something that's unique and special," said Daniel Rasmussen, a graduating senior and editor of the student newspaper. "I think Jordan High School is an awesome school, it's an amazing school, and the class of 2003 has already accomplished a lot and will continue to do so. So to be rewarded for that effort with Palm Pilots is awesome."
As for a gift for the class of 2004?
Who knows, Nielsen deadpanned:
"Pencils, I guess."
E-MAIL: jtcook@desnews.com