By F. KIRK POWELL
Editor & Publisher
...The Pleasant Hill R-3 High School awarded diplomas to 169 seniors in commencement exercises held last Thursday evening at the First Baptist Church of Raytown.
...Dressed in their traditional purple caps and gowns, the Class of 2013 marched into the church auditorium to music played by the Pleasant Hill High School Band.
...Following a welcome and introductory remarks by high school principal Paul Canaan, 2013 class president Mallory Miller and Student Council president Samantha Bornaman addressed their classmates.
..."This class is something special and coming up with a speech to justify that is no simple task," Mallory said.
..."We have big dreams and high expectations, but more importantly we have the drive and dedication to make them a reality."
..."I think it's safe to say that we have set the bar high and set a good example for our underclassmen," she said.
..."Well guys, we did it. We are finally graduating from high school," Samantha said in her remarks, "but this is a small step compared to what is coming." she said. "It's our time to shine...let's show the world what our generation can do."
...After a performance of Omnia Sol by the Pleasant Hill High School's Hillside Singers, the seniors were recognized for academic performance during high school.
...R-3 School superintendent Wesley Townsend presented medals and plaques to the class valedictorian and salutatorian.
...Rachel Lauve was this year's class valedictorian. She graduated with a 4.43 grade point average. The daughter of Randall and Kathy Lauve, Rachel plans to attend Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, in the fall and study English and creative writing. She hopes to become an editor for a publishing company following college.
...Class salutatorian Kaylee Mathiason graduated with a 4.41 grade point average. She is the daughter of Andrew and Cheryl Mathiason and plans to attend Drury University in Springfield in the fall. From there, she hopes to attend medical school and become a forensic medical examiner.
...Class rankings are figured on a 4.0 scale, but weighted classes allow students to earn a higher grade point average than that.
...Rounding out the remaining top 10 percent of the Class of 2013 were Noah Dayson, Hannah Widaman, Doug Bybee, Rachel Casteel, Kaitlin Long, Greg Troiani, Brittani Lugenbeel, Samantha Bornaman, Taylor Bonnesen, Steven Blake Greufe, Mysti-Ané Pearce, Anna Prewitt, Hannah Meyer, Adam Reeves and Mallory Miller.
...Academic letter winners were also recognized at commencement for scholastic achievement. To qualify for an academic letter, a student must earn a 3.5 or better grade point average for the school year. Earning academic letters were (one year) John Brookshier, Haley Burkhart, Brittany Couch, Tyler Dlugolecki, Joyce Fields, Rebecca King, Joshua Lukenbill, Mason Potter, Samuel Seaman, Mikayla Shepard, Sam Sherwood, Rachelle Smith, Angela Stillwell, Chelsea Stuber, Caleb Taylor, Seth Thompson, Sheyanna Thompson, Cassidy White, Lori Williams, Tyler Wilson and Ashley Younce, (two years) Logan Baker, Courtney Gibbins, Kayla Kennedy, Brent Norris, Ryan Spangler, Jennifer Vandiver, Baleigh Wheeler, Hanna Winkler and Shelby Zahn, (three years) Brad Henry Barnett, Karin Bock, Devon Jarrett, Erika King, Taylor Louthan and KayLee Smith, (four years) Taylor Bonnesen, Samantha Bornaman, Trevor Burge, Douglas Bybee, Rachel Casteel, Noah Dayson, Katharine DeBortoli, Dillan Findley, Jenna Greenwood, Steven Greufe, Joseph Griffith, Shannon Haws, MaryBeth Hertzog, Amethyst Hughes, Elizabeth Jerabek, Jessica Kemerling, Summer Kirchhoffer, Rachel Lauve, Kaitlin Long, Justin Longmeyer, Brittani Lugenbeel, Elisabeth Mansfield, Kaylee Mathiason Hannah Meyer, Mallory Miller, Tyler Miller, Brandon Norris, Mysti-Ané Pearce, Anna Prewitt, Jacob Randle, Adam Reeves, Dylan Ross, Brad Smith, Dominic Taylor, Taylor Thomas, Gregory Troiani, Shelby Walton, Kindred Wesemann, Hannah Widaman, Charlotte Williams and Lonnie Yost.
...The Class of 2013 was presented by high school principal Paul Canaan and diplomas were awarded by R-3 School Board president David Burge. A list of 2013 graduates follows.
...One hundred graduates earned Missouri A+ honors. The program provides scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated high schools who attend a participating public community college or vocational/technical school. Graduates earning A+ honors were Logan Austin Baker, Bradford Henry Barnett, Caleb Michael Basile, Karin Michaela Bock, Taylor Andrew Bonnesen, Samantha Cherié Bornaman, Cordell Ellis Boyd, John Michael Brookshier, Trenton Abram Burdette, Trevor Austin Burge, Alexander Nicholas Stewart Coday, Brittany Nicole Couch, Lauren Taylor Crawford, Brandon Alex Cribelar, Christopher Nataniel Mainprize Cripps, Erika Johanna Crofut, Noah McHenry Dayson, Katharine Nicole DeBortoli, Jacob Steven Julian Denney, Tyler Dakota Dlugolecki, Tyler John Farrell, Joyce Elizabeth Fields, Dillan Lane Findley, Courtney Leann Gibbins, Jenna Paige Greenwood, Steven Blake Greufe, Joseph Todd Griffith, Vyktoria Marie Harris, Spencer Ross Harvey, Joshua Michael Hatten, Logan Spencer Hawks, Shannon Taylor Haws, Taylor Alexis Hayes, Mary Elizabeth Hertzog, Kenneth Blake Higgs, Amethyst Rose Marie Hughes, Jesse Marie Jamison, Dakota Levi Jarrett, Devon Lacey Jarrett, Elizabeth Erin Jerabek, Dallas Michael Kelly, Jessica Sara Kemerling, Joel David Ketchum, Erika Breonne King, Summer Anne Kirchhoffer, Drake Alen Kramer, Rachel Kate Lauve, Jarrod Michael Lightfoot, Taylor Michael Livingston, Kaitlin Cecile Long, Justin Clarence Longmeyer, Taylor Jean Louthan, Brittani Raejean Lugenbeel, Joshua Michael Lukenbill, Elizabeth Anne Mansfield, Christian Scott Martin, Kaylee Mareé Mathiason, Hannah Marie Meyer, Mallory Lee Miller, Tyler Jeffrey Miller, Brandon Christopher Norris, Brent Michael Norris, Nicole Marie Patterson, Mysti-Ané Margaret Pearce, Mason Joseph Potter, Mackenzie Taylor Powell, Anna Lee Prewitt, Jacob Jerome Randle, Gregory Adam Reeves, Alexis Elaine Rehms, Dylan Ray Ross, Mikayla Marie Shepard, Elizabeth Dawn Sherman, Samuel Harris Sherwood, Nicholas Joseph Shore, John Bradley Smith, KayLee Marie Smith, Emily Marie Snider, Ryan Curtis Spangler, Samantha Kay Stillwell, Chelsea Danielle Stuber, Caleb Wayne Taylor, Dominic Desha Taylor, Taylor Nicole Thomas, Seth William Thompson, Sheyanna Nicole Thompson, Matthew Wesley Townsend, Brandon Wesley Uebele, Jennifer Lynn Vandiver, Elizabeth Ann Waddle, Shelby Jo-Ann Walton, Coleton Chase Watson, Cassidy Lynn White, Hannah Grace Widaman, Lori Ann Williams, Tyler Reed Wilson, Hannah Kerrin Winkler, Abigail Brenna Yoder, Ashley Nicole Younce and Shelby Noel Zahn.
...Other 2013 graduates were Shawn Michael Ashmore, Nicholas Ryan Barbarick, Tamera Jane Barker, Kelly Myra-Paige Blankers, Ashley Renee Blann, Jordan Dean Boynton, Haley Dawn Burkhart, Douglas Markham Bybee, Madison Halsey Capellen, Rachel Elizabeth Casteel, Daniel Duane Caswell, Jacob Lee Denney, Alexander Sebastian Doolittle, Alexzander George Dotson, Brianna Mae Eaton, Kacy Louise Faucette, Colbi Taylor Ford, Stephen James Garza, Matthew William Gray, Charlesea Kaylyn Jene Jackson, Trenton Lane Jarrett, Aaron Christopher Jarvis, Jessica Marie Kampe, Matthew Christopher Kellam, Jamie Rae Kelly, Kayla Leann Kennedy, Rebeca Lynn King, Allyson Marie Kinne, Zachariah Lee Kinne, Trent James Kirkpatrick, Kamron Chase LaMar, Maurice Lang, Jr., Devin Patrick Lees, Ashley Elizabeth Leirer, Alexandria Zicole Long, Christian Michael Lynn, John Thomas McConnell, Codie Ryan McKinney, Michael Keagen McNeall, Cody James Millard, Forrest Michael Miller, Gage Mathew Neve, Dennis James Padilla, Alex Delaney Pate, Austen Cole Prewitt, Monica Rene Ramstorf, Dakota Aaron Richey, Kavin Devon Rickel, Benjamin Joseph Rohne, David Keith Routh, Samuel Wayne Seaman, Taylor Lee Sims, Alyssa Michelle Smith, Rachelle Nicole Smith, Chase Spencer Snyder, Seth Hayden Sommers, Angela Marie Stillwell, Dakota Ray Sublett, Hailey Jean Taylor, Robert Lee Taylor, Gregory Robert Troiani, Jordy Robert Valentin, Josie Paige Vogeler, Nicole Jane Volland, Kindred Parris Wesemann, Ozzy Allen Whaley, Nathan Avery Wheeldon, Baleigh Morgan Wheeler, Charlotte Louise Williams and Lonnie Lee Yost.
...Commencement exercises concluded with closing remarks by high school principal Paul Canaan and the recessional.
...Officers for the Class of 2013 were Mallory Miller, president; Sam Sherwood, vice president; Cassidy White, secretary; and Trevor Burge, treasurer.
...Student Council officers were Samantha Bornaman, president; Kaylee Mathiason, secretary; and representatives Brad Barnett, Noah Dayson, Shannon Haws and Summer Kirchhofer.
...Senior class faculty sponsors were Chris Purnell (chairperson), Amy Fifer, Mike Keilholz, Crystal Monath and Darrin Schick.