School Scene

Dennis Rich/Democrat
<p>The Sacred Heart High School Class of 2013 look on as Valedictorian Miranda Meyer, left, delivers remarks during the school’s commencement ceremony on Sunday in the school’s gym.</p>

Sacred Heart High School Valedictorian Miranda Meyer encouraged her fellow graduates to “go on adventures, explore, have fun, make new memories and meet new people” during remarks at the school’s 2013 commencement ceremony on Sunday.

“I hope you achieve all of your goals in life,” Meyer said. “Face the challenges you come across head-on. We are all strong and we have been taught by the best and now it is our job to use what we have been taught to move forward into the next phase of our life.”

Meyer, co-salutatorians Lyndzie Brace and Megan Ortmeyer, and their fellow students gathered with family, friends and teachers in the Sacred Heart School gymnasium to celebrate the conclusion of their high school careers, marking the school’s 69th commencement exercises.

With 16 National Honor Society members, 19 graduating with honors and a total of some $300,000 in scholarships, the class represents a “great group of very hard-working students” according to Mark Register, the school’s administrator.

Register, marking his 20th commencement exercise, told the Democrat before the ceremony “it is always a special thing” to have seen classes grow from “kindergartners all the way through.”

“This group doesn’t have as many standouts as maybe some of our other groups have had, but they are highlighted by really good, solid, hard workers and several over-achievers,” Register said. “That is heartening when you see kids that have bought in to what we are trying to do here, because there is a sense of success and achievement.”

Students also heard from Robert Simon, a 1977 Sacred Heart graduate who gave this year’s commencement address. Simon encouraged graduates to use the faith, academic and social lessons learned at the private Catholic high school to ensure a successful future.

“As you move into the next season of your lives and focus on your dreams and goals, remember an attitude of gratitude, humility and forgiveness will be key to your success and your happiness in life,” Simon said.     

John Hansen/Democrat
<p>Valedictorian Zach Wolf holds up a Rubik’s Cube during the Smith-Cotton Class of 2013 graduation ceremony on Saturday at the Mathewson Exhibition Center. He used the cube as a metaphor for the challenges students overcame.</p>

Valedictorian Zach Wolf solved a Rubik’s cube on stage Saturday at the Smith-Cotton High School Class of 2013 graduation ceremony. It was a metaphor for the complex puzzles students have to solve en route to getting that diploma.

But due to the rising costs of tuition and the dangers of racking up too much student-loan debt in a bad economy, the puzzle-solving goes beyond securing that piece of paper that won’t buy you a sandwich at Walmart. Many in the Class of 2013 went above and beyond the classroom to win scholarships that will ease the financial burden of college — the next step in the uphill quest to find a job.

“Our class is really smart, so you basically have to have all A’s all the time just to be in the top 10 percent of your class,” graduate Hannah Ott said before Saturday’s ceremony at the Mathewson Exhibition Center. “And it’s been really hard, because I’ve had to dedicate a lot of time to school and not go out with friends as much. I still have fun, but I’ve had to buckle down and do what I’m supposed to do.”

Ott, who plans to study nursing at the University of Central Missouri, won $6,000 in scholarships. Wolf was even more fortunate, as he raked in a $70,000 full-ride scholarship to the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he plans to study entrepreneurship and real estate.

“Everybody’s going to have the academic requirements, so that’s not going to stand out,” Wolf said. “They’re looking for someone who can public-speak, and people who can live beyond the classroom and be well-rounded.”

Smith-Cotton senior counselor Carmen Brock said the Class of 2013’s $1.6 million worth of scholarships is on par with the average in recent years. But it’s higher than when she started in education 21 years ago.

“The majority of students have to have some kind of supplemental income, whether it be scholarships, Pell grants or student loans,” Brock said. “To be successful, now you need a college education. It used to be that a high school education got you pretty far, but not anymore.”

As such, Saturday’s graduation was not an ending. Nor was it even a beginning, since many students started seeking college scholarships a whole year before graduating from high school.

“I started applying for outside scholarships after my junior year,” said Ryan Akin, who plans to play soccer and study pre-med at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan.

Scholarship money will cover $24,500 of Akin’s $32,000 annual cost to attend Baker. Akin’s money rolled in from a whopping 11 different scholarships — four from the school itself, and seven from other sources.

“I spent countless hours writing submissions,” said Akin, who was a goalkeeper for the Tigers. “For the dean’s scholarship, I made a presentation on how art has influenced me. Then I did an essay and an interview. It took a lot, but I’m glad I did it.”

Essentially, Saturday’s high school graduates have already started the process of fighting for a job in an economy that will likely still be in rough shape in four years. Further compounding the problem, many students’ parents have struggled in the bad economy, making scholarships essential to merely attend college.

“My parents don’t make as much because of the economy, so I have to find a way to pay for college, because that will pay off in the long run,” said Jovana Cervantes, who took in about $1,500 in scholarships that she’ll put toward her studies at State Fair Community College and Southern Illinois University.

It took Wolf a little more than a minute to solve the Rubik’s cube on Saturday (his record is 44 seconds). He made it look easy, but he’s been practicing since his freshman year. Likewise, the Class of 2013 is already putting in the effort that could impress an employer someday.

If not, there’s always the option of starting one’s own business. Wolf actually already owns a local business: Buzz Pro, which sells advertising on benches.

“Right now, you see first-hand the effects of the economy,” said Wolf, a member of the Tigers basketball team. “People will say they agree with everything you’re saying, but they just can’t afford to advertise. That’s the situation we’re in with the economy.”

Still, there was no sense of doom-and-gloom from Wolf or other graduates on Saturday.

“They call our generation the ‘instant-gratification generation,’ ” Wolf said. “People look at that negatively, but I also see it as we’re go-getters. We’re entrepreneurial. If we can’t find a job, we’ll create one.”

And the Class of 2013 isn’t shy about competition. Ott, for one, works extra hard because of it.

“Our class is very intelligent, and kids are motivated to take college classes, and a lot of them want to be doctors,” she said. “You’ve gotta compete against all those kids that are geniuses in everything they do. It motivates you.”

Skyline Elementary School recently recognized students for their perseverance.Pictured on the front row, from left, are Ruby Williams, Kierra Barnett, Bode Hayworth and Karlie Coleman. Second row: Ashley Garza, Kylah Hawkins, Carlie Cooper, Logan Acklin and Preston Miller. Third row: Jacob Muin, Sam Wise, David Wilson, Jessica Tienda and Mackenzie Bond. Back row: Gage Schmidt, Caleb Bush, Cassie Mankin and Gabby Ramirez.

<p>Cindy Birdwell</p>

Cindy Birdwell has been recently elected as the treasurer for the Central District Business Teachers Association. She is the business instructor at Otterville School along with yearbook, senior class and FBLA adviser.

<p>Amos Kasperek</p>

Amos Kasperek earned a doctorate in Spanish with an emphasis in Golden Age literature from the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

He is the son of Marian and Jean Kasperek, of Cole Camp, and is a 2000 graduate of Cole Camp High School. He was a lifelong member of Faith Baptist Church in Sedalia.

He, his wife Sarah and son Titus will be moving to Greenville, S.C., where he is on the faculty at Bob Jones University.

As a first generation son of a Polish immigrant family, he is the first Kasperek to earn the title “doctor.”

<p>Byancia Kohler</p>

Warsaw High School senior Byancia Kohler placed second in vinyl sign making at the Skills USA Competition at Linn Tech on April 6, along with teammates Courtney Graves and Ashley Henderson who attend Smith-Cotton High School. Byancia attends State Fair Career and Technical Center in Sedalia.

<p>Nan Hutcheson</p>

Nan Hutcheson, of Sedalia, received the Olen and Alpha DePew Memorial Scholarship at the 2012-13 Annual Student Awards Ceremony on April 25 at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout. She is a home-school graduate.

High school senior Ashley Chance of Lincoln High School has been selected an honorable mention student in the 2013 Missouri Scholars 100, a statewide program that honors 100 of Missouri’s top academic students in the graduating class of 2013. The announcement was made by Marc Spunaugle, principal at Lincoln High School.

Missouri Scholars 100 is a program sponsored by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals. Schools across Missouri were invited to nominate candidates for this statewide recognition. The selection is based primarily on a formula using the student’s grade point average and ACT or SAT score. Each student nominated had to first meet criteria of an academic decathlon, which included 10 events designed to assure the academic strength of the student. To meet the decathlon requirements, the student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.750, a minimum ACT score of 29 or a minimum SAT score of 1,900, be ranked in the upper 10 percent of the class, and have taken upper level courses in mathematics, science, English, and foreign language. The student must also have excellent attendance, be an exemplary school citizen and be involved in the school activity program.

<p>Aric Gooch</p>

Aric Gooch has received a variety of honors this school year. He is the son of Curtis and Vicky Gooch, of Bolivar, and grandson of Frank and Patsy Gooch, of Sedalia.

He was named the Rotary student of the month in January. School activities he’s participated in include Student Council, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and FCA.

He was a semi-finalist in the 44th annual National Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship Competition. Awards are granted to high school seniors for the best all-around presentation including an explanation of why they are planning careers in government service.

He also attended the FCCLA Legislative Shadowing Program in Jefferson City. He met with state leaders and spent two days learning about their jobs. He spent most of his time with State Rep. Sue Entlicher and her intern. He also heard U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt speak.

He has been an intern at Bolivar City Hall and has worked with City Administrator Darin Chappell and Director of Economic Development and Human Resources Tracy Slagle. He also served on the downtown renovation committee and Missouri Main Street program. He graduated from Bolivar High School this month and plans to attend Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.

Jacob Schuster, a junior mathematics major from Pilot Grove, was the recipient of the Libby Scholarship Award during the annual Honors Day Convocation held May 13 at Culver-Stockton College in Canton.