The 2020-21 Tarkio High School yearbook was dedicated to retiring teachers Lesley Graves, left, and Lisa Clement, right.
Miss and Mr. THS of 2021 are Bryli Staten and Devin Guajardo.
The Tarkio High School Class of 2021 top five graduates are: valedictorian Mercedes Parshall, salutatorian Ella Rolf, Morgan Parshall, Brynnan Poppa, and Ashlynn Meyer.
Tarkio High School seniors and underclassmen were recognized at the annual awards banquet on Friday, May 14, 2021, in the THS Gym.
Tarkio High School seniors and underclassmen were honored for academic excellence at an awards assembly held Friday, May 14, 2021, in the THS Gym. During the assembly, the seniors received scholarships for future college endeavors and recognitions for achievements made in their classes this school year and all four years. Other students also received honors for their achievements throughout the year.
Members of the Class of 2021 walked into the gym to their class song “Stole the Show” by Kygo and then everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance. THS Counselor Tracy Cooper welcomed everyone and the award presentations began. The following is a list of honorees and the awards presented:
Atchison County Development Corporation (ACDC) scholarships presented by Lori Seymour – Ashlynn Meyer and Jayden Umbarger
Tarkio Rotary Club scholarships presented by Dean Sparks – Charles “Chuck” Sheppard Memorial Schol-arship – Ella Rolf; Dr. Gavin L. Doughty Memorial Scholarship – Bryli Staten; Tarkio High School Interact Scholarship – Mercedes Parshall, Morgan Parshall, and Brynnan Poppa; Interact Club President Plaque – Bryli Staten; and Tarkio Technology Institute Scholarship – Hunter Bennett
Schlueter Memorial Schol-arships presented by Matt Schlueter – Bryli Staten and Grant Turnbull
Tarkio First Baptist Church Deacon Memorial Scholarship presented by Matt Schlueter – Bryli Staten
Forty and Eight Scholarship presented by Marvin Harper – Ella Rolf
Community Blood Center High School Youth Scholarship presented by Mark Staten – Ella Rolf and Bryli Staten
David Joesting Scholarship presented by Dustin Lambertsen – Ashlynn Meyer
CTA Scholarships presented by Dustin Lambertsen – Max Gregg/Carlotta White Scholarship – Ella Rolf; and the Wheatley Scholarship – Bryli Staten
P.E.O. Chapter FF scholarships presented by Blu Dow – Bryli Staten
Tarkio Lions Club scholarships presented by Steve Klute – Mercedes Parshall, Morgan Parshall, Grant Turnbull, Ella Rolf, and Ashlynn Meyer
St. John’s Lutheran Church Scholarship presented by Steve Klute – Ashlynn Meyer, Ella Rolf, and Brynnan Poppa
George V. Smith Tarkio Fire Department Scholarship presented by Tracy Cooper – Cheyenne Gray
Tarkio Christian Church Scholarship presented by Tracy Cooper – Bryli Staten
The following awards were presented by Tracy Cooper:
Northwest Missouri State University Awards – Aubrey Brown, Tower Scholar; Cheyenne Gray, University Scholar; Devin Guajardo, Tower Scholar and Cultural Enrichment; Brynnan Poppa, Tower Scholar, NW A+, Lydia L. Stickerod, and Adopt-A-Bearcat
Missouri Western State University – Bryli Staten, Griffon Guarantee, Griffon Guarantee ACT, Access Missouri Grant, and MWSU A+; Aubrey Brown, Griffon Guarantee, ACT; Autumn Murry, Griffon Guarantee, A+; and Harley Caudill, Griffon Guarantee
Missouri State University – Aubrey Brown, Academic Distinction; and Autumn Murry, Academic Excellence
University of Missouri – Columbia – Mercedes Parshall, Curator’s and John C. Stapel; Morgan Parshall, Doris B. Meritt and Excellence Award
University of Missouri – Columbia Honors College – Ella Rolf, Curator’s and Alumni Legacy Association Agency Award
Missouri Welding Institute – Jayden Umbarger, welding competition award
Luretta Ruth Turnbull Memorial Scholarship – Ella Rolf
Louis E. Bell Trust – Ella Rolf
Tarkio Technology Institute recognition – (Welding) Jordan Graf, Jayden Umbarger, Zoe Megenbrier, Cameron Nance (1st year), Jesse Navin, and Justin Stanton (1st year); and (Wind Energy Technology) Lucas Joesting
Northwest Technical School Recognition – Amethyst Somerville (Culinary Arts 1st year), Carter Holecek (Building Trades 1st year), Jaden Clark (Auto Mechanics 1st year)
D.A.R.E. Role Model recognition – Hunter Bennett
“I Dare You” Awards – Tessa Rolf and Daniel Lesher
Lois Kemper Jurich Memorial Scholarship and Adolph and Hulda Kemper Family Memorial Scholarship – Brynnan Poppa
Upward Bound recognition (receive a silver stoll) – Alyssa Applen, Devin Guajardo, Hunter Bennett, and Harley Caudill
George Washington Carver Awards – Ella Rolf and Mercedes Parshall
College Preparatory Certification recognition (receive gold cords) – Aubrey Brown, Ashlynn Meyer, Mercedes Parshall, Morgan Parshall, Brynnan Poppa, Ella Rolf, and Bryli Staten
President’s Education Award Program in Outstanding Academic Excellence (gold seal and pin) – Mercedes Parshall, Ella Rolf, Morgan Parshall, Brynnan Poppa, Ashlynn Meyer, Bryli Staten, and Cheyenne Gray
President’s Education Award Program in Outstanding Academic Achievement (silver seal) – Aubrey Brown, Madison Driskell, Harley Caudill, Allison Yates, and Devin Guajardo
The State of Missouri and United States House of Representatives Con-gratulatory on behalf of Allen Andrews and Sam Graves – Alyssa Applen, Hunter Bennett, Aubrey Brown, Harley Caudill, Thomas Danielson, Madison Driskell, Jordan Graf, Cheyenne Gray, Devin Guajardo, Keely Horton, Skylar Horton, Ashlynn Meyer, Autumn Murry, Mercedes Parshall, Morgan Parshall, Brynnan Poppa, Ella Rolf, Bryli Staten, Grant Turnbull, Jayden Umbarger, Audrey Weidenaar, Allison Yates, and Kaytlin Young.
Top Five Seniors – Mercedes Parshall (1), Ella Rolf (2), Morgan Parshall (3), Brynnan Poppa (4), and Ashlynn Meyer (5)
National Honor Society Good Citizen Award presented by NHS senior member Ashlynn Meyer – Bryli Staten
Academic letters and bars presented by Mark Staten: 1st year – Skylar Horton, Alaina Armstrong, Emily Blum, Connor Brown, Emilee Caudill, Alexis Gibler, Josie King, Kelsea Kirwan, Daniel Lesher, Tessa Rolf, Rylie Simmons, and Jarrett Spinnato; 2nd year – Alexis Brown, Titus Eaton, Haley Garrison, Jaden Goodin, Bo Graves, Katie Hall, Brooke Lee, Sophia Martin, Kaylin Merriweather, Stormy Nordhausen, Aaron Schlueter Amy Somerville, Braiden Wennihan, and Jacob Duran; and 3rd year – Aubrey Brown, Harley Caudill, Madison Driskell, Cheyenne Gray, Devin Guajardo, Ashlynn Meyer, Autumn Murry, Mercedes Parshall, Morgan Parshall, Brynnan Poppa, Ella Rolf, Bryli Staten, and Allison Yates
High School Scholar Bowl Team recognition presented by Mark Staten – The team placed second in the 275 Conference, won districts, won sectionals, and placed fourth at state. Team members included team captain Aaron Schlueter, Devin Guajardo, Bo Graves, Haley Garrison, Alexis Brown, Daniel Lesher, Drew Sanders, Brooklyn Wennihan, and Alex Barnett.
Florence Prather McMillan Scholarship presented by Casey Martin – Ella Rolf
Senior Smoke Signals staff members were recognized by Casey Martin. They are Devin Guajardo, Hunter Bennett, Jordan Graf, Grant Turnbull, Jayden Umbarger, Thomas Danielson, and Harley Caudill.
Hixson Family Memorial Scholarship presented by Casey Martin – Bryli Staten and Brynnan Poppa
Scholar Athlete awards presented by Joe Unternahrer – Aaron Schlueter, Haley Garrison, Mercedes Parshall, Ella Rolf, Cheyenne Gray, and Bryli Staten
MSHSAA Awards of Excellence presented by Joe Unternahrer – Ella Rolf and Mercedes Parshall
Senior Athlete Award presented by Joe Unternahrer – Hunter Bennett and Brynnan Poppa
Duke Nuckolls Memorial Scholarship presented by Joe Unternahrer – Bryli Staten
Bruce Hogue Memorial Scholarship presented by Joe Unternahrer – Cheyenne Gray
AAFCS Early Childhood Education Certification pre-sented by Dara Whipple – Keely Horton
A+ recognitions presented by Carrie Livengood – Ella Rolf, Morgan Parshall, Mercedes Parshall, Brynnan Poppa, Bryli Staten, and Ashlynn Meyer
Perfect Attendance 2020-2021 – Matthew Driskell and Emily Gebhards missed no days; Brezie Bywater, Alexis Bywater, Kale Lekey, and Parker Livengood only missed days due to COVID-19 quarantine
Business Pathway Completion students were recognized by Stephanie Parsons. They were Allison Yates, Hunter Bennett, Brynnan Poppa, and Thomas Danielson
Outstanding Senior Business Award presented by Stephanie Parsons – Thomas Danielson
Senior class prophecies were read. Senior Class President Bryli Staten presented Junior Class President Aaron Schlueter with the class key.
Publications teacher Steph–anie Parsons recognized Lisa Clement and Lesley Graves as this year’s Yearbook Dedication re-cipients.
Mr. and Miss THS presented by Stephanie Parsons – Devin Guajardo and Bryli Staten
Student Body President Ella Rolf announced that the newly elected 2021-22 student body president is Sophia Martin and vice-president is Tessa Rolf.
The Pledge to the Tarkio School Flag was recited and the seniors filed out. The younger students then changed seats, signifying their move to the next grade level.
