The graduating seniors listening to their guest speaker, Mr. Donnie Parsons, during commencement.
RPHS Class of 2018 Valedictorian was Allyson Demott, left, and Salutatorian was Mystie Robinson.
Evan Elam, left, and Caden Linthicum walk in to Commencement.
Rock Port High School’s top ten graduating seniors from left to right: Gretchen Tharp (10), Gyliane Henning (9), Catyn Chamberlain (8), Ryan Dewhirst (7), Dalton Brake (6), Kaycee Davis (5), Payton Schomburg (4), Mercer Deatz (3), Mystie Robinson (2) and Ally Demott (1).
Mr. Donnie Parsons was the 2018 commencement speaker.
Mr. Walker awards Gyliane Henning her Top 10 medal.
Rock Port Board of Education member Dan Lucas presents Catyn Chamberlain with her diploma.
Kaycee Davis is congratulated by Rock Port Board of Education members.
Rock Port Board of Education member Dan Lucas, presents his son Ben Lucas with his diploma.
The following award presentation were announced by Shauna Farmer, Rock Port High School Counselor, at the Rock Port High School Class of 2018’s commencement on Sunday, May 13, 2018.
Evan Elam was one of three seniors who had a “Principal’s Art Gallery” award on display in the elementary since the 2006-2007 school year. These pictures were taken home by the graduate after the ceremony. Evan plans to head straight into the workforce following graduation.
Chris Sticken has joined the United States Army. We wish Chris well in his new adventure.
Naoma Davis was our first senior who received a Vocational Certificate from Northwest Technical School in Maryville. She began in the Child Development Program her junior year and advanced to the Health Science Program her senior year. Naoma was also the first A+ student from the Class of 2018. This program documents 50 hours of tutoring or mentoring. Students must achieve 95% cumulative attendance over 4 years, maintain a 2.5 GPA and be a good citizen in the community and at school. A+ graduates may use their grant benefits at any A+ Missouri public community college or technical or vocational school. The benefits will help with the cost of six semesters of fees or the completion of a degree program, whichever comes first. Naoma completed her CNA and plans to further her career in nursing while serving with the United States Marines.
Trais Lawson: New Horizons’ Afton Schomburg presented Trais with their vocational scholarship. Trais was our final Northwest Technical School senior. Trais had a successful experience in the welding program earning a 2 year certificate at Northwest Tech. He plans to attend welding school at the Missouri Welding Institute in Nevada, MO.
Hannah Miller: Along with the gift from the American Legion, Hannah was our 2nd A+ awardee and was the first recipient of the Warren and Evalyn Morgan Charitable Trust High School Scholarship which is renewable for high school students. Warren and Evalyn were farmers in the Watson area for several years, and Evalyn was a teacher. They valued education and helping students achieve their educational goals. Their charitable trust has been able to help many Atchison County students. Rock Port’s Optimist Club honored Hannah with the $500 Bill Andrews Scholarship. Bill was one of the founding members of the RP Optimist Club and spent many hours supporting youth activities. Hannah is enrolled at Missouri Western State University for this fall, and has accepted their Dean’s Scholarship to major in nursing.
Abbie Hale was our third A+ student in the class of 2018. Abbie was the first of two students who received the Rock Port Recycling Scholarship This award was initiated by community member Gary McGuire. Gary encouraged area residents to donate their aluminum cans and expired batteries so that he, in turn, could put the money towards a scholarship for our local youth. Abbie is currently in the process of meeting with the Lady Griffon track coach as a prospective team member for next year. Missouri Western State University has awarded Abbie their Dean’s Scholarship which she will use to obtain a nursing degree.
Jase Hughes has been offered the $1,000 Lydia Stickerod Scholarship, the Northwest University Scholar award and was our 4th A+ student to graduate. Jase has enrolled at Northwest Missouri State University and is currently undecided on his major.
Ben Lucas: The First Baptist Church of Tarkio chose Ben for a $500 scholarship. Ben received the FFA Alumni Scholarship at the Awards Assembly on Thursday. Ben received the A.C. Bin Scholarship sponsored by Jon Lucas. Ben will be headed to South Dakota State to major in precision agriculture. SDS awarded Ben the Yellow and Blue Scholarship along with the Jackrabbit Achievement Award.
Gretchen Tharp: Tisha Jackson, Beta Gals, presented Gretchen with their scholarship award. Gretchen was the 5th student to receive the A+ Scholarship and was the first to receive one of two $1,000 Atchison County Development Scholarships. ACDC is proud to invest in our students, hoping to see them back in Atchison County in future years. The ACDC Board members realize the value of the vocational and educational programs in our small community and hope to see more applications for this scholarship in the future. The first of two $500 Ronnie Harmon Lions Club Scholarships went to Gretchen. The United Methodist Church of Rock Port gifted Gretchen with their Gene Bunn and Merle and Vera Walter Award.The Watson Outreach foundation offered one of their two $500 scholarships to Gretchen. Along with her A+ Scholarship, Gretchen was offered a golf scholarship from North Central Missouri College in Trenton, MO. Gretchen will complete her general studies at NCMC and then transfer to complete a degree in Speech and Language Pathology.
Gyliane Henning was one of three seniors who attended the Upward Bound Academy during high school. She was chosen through an interview process to attend Upward Bound housed on the campus of NWMSU. Upward Bound has been sponsored by Northwest Missouri State University since 1986 and services selected schools in Atchison, Gentry, and Nodaway counties in Missouri. Upward Bound participants find their academic careers and social lives enriched by Saturday Academies, college visits, and special activities scheduled throughout the academic year. In addition, Upward Bound sponsors an annual six-week, on campus summer residential program for its members. This opportunity grants students a chance to see what college life is like and provides them access to an abundance of educational opportunities. Gyliane earned the 1st of four Presidential Award of Excellence certificates, which was based on scoring at the 85th percentile on the ACT in either reading or math and achieving a 3.67 or higher cumulative grade point average. Gyliane will attend Missouri State University, where she has been gifted the Missouri State Provost, and major in Psychology.
Catyn Chamberlain: Along with the Tony Gaines Memorial and Sportsmanship Awards given at the High School Awards Assembly, Catyn was our 2nd recipient of the ACDC Scholarship and our 6th A+ awardee. She was the 2nd Morgan Trust Scholarship winner from the 2018 class. Catyn received an American Dream Grant and an Access Grant from Northwest Missouri State University where she will major in Psychology.
Ryan Dewhirst: St. Mary’s Catholic Church gifted Ryan a $500 scholarship. Ryan is the 2nd Presidential Award of Excellence recipient. Ryan was the 2nd recipient of the A.C. Bin Scholarship. Northwest Missouri State University offered Ryan an Academic Excellence Scholarship and a Bearcat Football Scholarship. Ryan plans to major in Computer Science.
Dalton Brake: The first Rock Port Rotary Scholarship of $500 went to Dalton Brake. Dalton is the 3rd Morgan Trust Scholarship winner and the 3rd Presidential Award of Excellence recipient. Dalton was the final A.C. Bin recipient. The University of St. Mary offered Dalton their Presidential Award, a Science Department Award, the Spire Award and an Athletic Award to play football for the Spires. Dalton plans to major in Exercise and Sports Science for Physical Therapy.
Kaycee Davis was our 2nd Watson Outreach Scholarship awardee. This scholarship was made possible by donations and produce that was purchased from Gibb Holmes during the summer. Kaycee plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and major in Forensic Science.
Payton Schomburg was the winner of the $2,000 MFA Scholarship. The MFA Foundation was established in 1958 with the primary purpose of providing greater educational opportunity for youth in our trade territory. The Foundation’s major activity is its Scholarship Program, which has provided assistance to nearly 11,000 college and university students from rural communities since its initiation in 1965. This scholarship was sponsored by Ag Choice of Rock Port and Fairfax and was one of approximately 340 scholarships presented this year by MFA Incorporated, MFA Oil Company, and their affiliates. Payton was our 7th A+ student, 4th Morgan Trust and 2nd Rock Port Recycling awardee. Payton has chosen Northwest Missouri State University as her home next year. This will be a familiar site from her time with Upward Bound during high school. She will utilize her Tower and Quimby/Walker Scholarships to pursue a degree in Business Management.
Mercer Deatz was the 2nd student to be gifted back his Principal’s Art Gallery picture from 2005-2006. Mercer was an Honorable Mention finalist in the Missouri Association of School Principals. Mercer was also the 2nd Rock Port Rotary Scholarship recipient and the 4th Presidential Award of Excellence awardee. The State of Missouri congratulated Mercer on earning a qualifying ACT score for the Missouri Higher Education Academic Scholarship, also known as the “Bright Flight.” Mercer has been accepted into the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy’s Early Assurance Program where he will utilize his UMKC Chancellors Scholarship and his UMKC Achievement Award.
Mystie Robinson was our final Morgan Trust Scholarship, Ronnie Harmon Lions Club Scholarship, A+ and Upward Bound student. She also had the final Principal’s Art Gallery picture from 2008-2009. Along with joining the other Presidential Award of Excellence students, PEO chose Mystie as the Phyllis Million Scholarship recipient. Mystie plans on attending Missouri State where she will utilize her Missouri State Provost Award and major in nursing.
Allyson Demott: Along with the Grinnell Mutual Award and National Honor Society Scholarship given at the High School Awards Assembly, Rock Port’s CTA was proud to honor Allyson with their $500 educational scholarship. Allyson was the final Presidential Award of Excellence awardee. Allyson was the 2nd Rock Port graduate in school history to receive the Rock Port Telephone/Foundation of Rural Services Scholarship. Allyson will be headed south to Kansas State University in Manhattan where she will apply her Purple and White Scholarship and her Housing Incentive Scholarship toward a degree in Mathematics.
TOP TEN seniors of 2018
Gretchen Tharp 10
Gyliane Henning 09
Catyn Chamberlain 08
Ryan Dewhirst 07
Dalton Brake 06
Kaycee Davis 05
Payton Schomburg 04
Mercer Deatz 03
Based on a 4 point weighted scale this year’s salutatorian with a cumulative grade point average of 4.2481 was Miss Mystie Robinson. The valedictorian with a cumulative grade point average of 4.445 is Miss Ally Demott.