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Lillian Draper has school spirit.
It's homecoming week at Salt Lake City's West High School, and officials chose her from among thousands to lead a rousing cheer at Thursday morning's pep rally. "West High! West High! Rah! Rah! Rah!" she chanted.
Then Draper, age 104, laughed and settled back into her wheelchair to enjoy the remainder of the rally.
As part of homecoming, West High honored Draper as its oldest surviving graduate. She's also the oldest living graduate of the University of Utah and Utah's 11th-oldest resident.
Grandson Craig Conder smiled as he recalled Draper's reaction to West High's invitation to be honored at the homecoming rally.
"I'm sure they can dig up somebody older," she told him.
"Yes, Grandma," he responded, "but they want someone alive."
West High Principal Parley Jacobs said that by honoring alumni such as Draper, the school "shows kids the history and tradition that West High values."
Draper's story demonstrates how grateful today's students can be for their education.
Despite her accomplishments, she would have been unlikely to complete any schooling had it not been for changes in Utah law in the 1920s that made high school completion compulsory.
"My mom really had no support for school, but from her tiniest memory, she wanted to go," said Marjorie Conder said of Draper, who graduated from West High in 1924.
Draper's father thought college was unnecessary, yet she went on to graduate from the U. and taught special education in Utah for 30 years before retiring in 1971.
"She figures nobody can get enough education," Conder said.
Draper's contribution to education didn't end with her retirement.
Each of her children went to college. Conder earned a master's degree and works at the LDS Church history museum. Both of Draper's sons are teachers — one is a Brigham Young University professor and the other teaches at a California public school.
Her mother's favorite charity remains the LDS Church's Perpetual Education Fund, Conder said.
Draper said the education program available at West High today amazes her.
And she may just have played a role in encouraging students to appreciate it.
All around her, they erupted in applause Thursday to her heartfelt cheer.