Tarkio High School Class of 2024 top 5 graduates, from left to right, are Brooklyn Wennihan, Alex Barnett, Claire Martin, Jozee Eaton, and Jersi Poppa.
Tarkio High School Class of 2024 Senior Athlete Awards went to Tommi Martin and Ian Stepp.
Tarkio High School Class of 2024 Miss & Mr. THS are Alex Barnett and Ian Stepp.
The Tarkio High School Awards Assembly was held Friday, May 10, 2024, in the THS Gym. The seniors received scholarships for future college endeavors and recognitions for achievements made in their classes this school year and all four years. Underclassmen also received honors for their achievements throughout the year.
Members of the Class of 2024 walked into the gym to their class song “Long Live” by Taylor Swift and then everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance. THS Counselor Marisa Hedlund welcomed everyone in attendance and then the award presentations began. The following is a list of honorees and the awards presented:
Atchison County Development Corporation (ACDC) scholarship presented by Jeff Meyer – Ian Stepp and Garret Rosenbohm
40 & 8 Scholarship presented by Andy Riley – Brooklyn Wennihan
Tarkio Rotary Club scholarships presented by Glenn Scott – Charles “Chuck” Sheppard Memorial Scholarship, Alex Barnett; Dr. Gavin L. Doughty Memorial Scholarship, Ian Stepp; Tarkio High School Interact Scholarships, Brooklyn Wennihan, Jersi Poppa, Tommi Martin, and Claire Martin
Tarkio Technology Institute Scholarship presented by Mark Staten – Caiden Caudill, Taylor Doyle, Colton Hall, Jillian Hannah, and Hailey Morton
Schlueter Memorial Scholarship presented by Matt Schlueter – Alex Barnett and Claire Martin
Tarkio First Baptist Church Deacon Memorial Scholarship presented by Pastor Tate Walker – Alex Barnett and Brooklyn Wennihan
Good News Church scholarship presented by Rachel Graves – Ian Stepp
CTA scholarships presented by Ellie Graves – Max Gregg Scholarship, Claire Martin; Carlotta White Scholarship, Ian Stepp; and the Wheatley Family Scholarship, Alex Barnett
P.E.O. Chapter FF scholarship presented by Ellie Graves – Brooklyn Wennihan
George V. Smith Tarkio Volunteer Fire Department scholarship presented by Allen Wennihan – Brooklyn Wennihan
Tarkio Lions Club scholarships – Alex Barnett, Jozee Eaton, Ian Stepp, and Mary Laur
St. John’s Lutheran Church scholarship – Claire Martin
Community Blood Center Blood Drive scholarship – Brooklyn Wennihan
Kemper Family Memorial scholarship presented by Marisa Hedlund – Jersi Poppa
Jack Schmidt Memorial Scholarship presented by Marisa Hedlund – Addison Noland, Claire Martin, and Mary Laur
Louis E. Bell Trust presented by Marisa Hedlund – Claire Martin
Luretta Ruth Turnbull Memorial Scholarships presented by Marisa Hedlund – Alexis Bywater and Ian Stepp
Tarkio College Alumni Association Charles “Chuck” McAdams Memorial Scholarship presented by Marisa Hedlund – Ian Stepp
The State of Missouri and United States House of Representatives recognized all graduating seniors: Alex Barnett, Alexis Bywater, Caiden Caudill, Taylor Doyle, Dalaynie Drummond, Jozee Eaton, Drew Johnson, Weston Klosek, Mary Laur, Claire Martin, Tommi Martin, Shelby McNaughton, Hailey Morton, Linkin Murry, RayLeigh Nance, Addison Noland, Jersi Poppa, Garret Rosenbohm, Ian Stepp, Emma Viets, and Brooklyn Wennihan
Northwest Missouri State University Awards presented by Marisa Hedlund – Academic Excellence, Jozee Eaton and Jersi Poppa; Northwest Merit, RayLeigh Nance; and University Scholar, Alexis Bywater and Addison Noland
University of Missouri – Columbia awards presented by Marisa Hedlund – Excellence Award, Ian Stepp; and John C. Stapel Student Aid Scholarship, Claire Martin
Missouri Western State University awards presented by Marisa Hedlund – Griffon Guarantee Scholarship, Brooklyn Wennihan
Missouri State University awards presented by Marisa Hedlund – Women’s Track and Academic Excellence scholarships, Tommi Martin
Peru State College awards presented by Marisa Hedlund – No Boundaries and Women’s Golf scholarships, Alex Barnett
National Honor Society Outstanding Citizen of the Year presented by Lizzie Schlueter – Alex Barnett
Academic letters and bars presented by Mark Staten – Robbie Armstrong, Haylee Clark, Dalaynie Drummond, Dylan Drummond, Julia Foehrenbach, Emily Gebhards, Bresayda Jimenez, Zoe Madron, Shelby McNaughton, Rainy Nordhausen, Bo Peregrine, Raelee Russell, Olivia Schaefer, Blake Simmons, Quin Staten, Isaac Vette, Carter Wennihan, Kennedy White, and Jaeka Wiley, first year; Cole Anderson, Kamryn Brown, Sydnee Bruns, Owen DeRosier, River Dow, Alex Erickson, Colton Hall, Abbie Harms, Gabe Harms, Luke Morey, Connor Morton, Lizzie Schlueter, and Alyson Wooten, second year; and Alex Barnett, Alexis Bywater, Taylor Doyle, Jozee Eaton, Mary Laur, Claire Martin, Tommi Martin, Linkin Murry, Addison Noland, Jersi Poppa, Garret Rosenbohm, Ian Stepp, and Brooklyn Wennihan, third year
Outstanding Mentor Award presented by Tarkio Elementary students – Ian Stepp and Alexis Bywater
Junior High and High School Scholar Bowl honors presented by Heidi Unternahrer – Tucker Hurst, Josh Schlueter, Gracie Walker, Viviane Hale, Owen Vette, Easton Madron, Taya Windham, and Ben Rolf, junior high; and Delainee White, Gavin Mattice, Rainy Nordhausen, Julia Foehrenbach, Brody Wennihan, Olivia Schaefer, Connor Morton, Finn Hurst, Thomas Spencer, Dalton Hogue, Isaac Vette, Abbie Harms, Gabe Harms, Lizzie Schlueter, and Alex Barnett, high school
Florence Prather McMillan English Award presented by Casey Martin – Alex Barnett
Hixson Family Memorial Scholarship presented by Casey Martin – Claire Martin
Smoke Signals staff members recognized by Casey Martin were Drew Johnson, Claire Martin, Ian Stepp, Garret Rosenbohm, Tommi Martin, and Addison Noland, with Special Recognition for Foreign Correspondence to Julia Foehrenbach.
275 Scholar Athlete Awards presented by Joe Unternahrer – Abbie Harms, Lizzie Schlueter, Cole Anderson, Kamryn Brown, Gabe Harms, Alex Barnett, Alexis Bywater, Claire Martin, and Brooklyn Wennihan
Outstanding Senior Athlete Award presented by Joe Unternahrer – Ian Stepp and Tommi Martin
KMA Sportscaster scholarship presented by Joe Unternahrer – Tommi Martin
Bruce Hogue Memorial Scholarship presented by Melody Barnett – Alex Barnett
Duke Nuckolls Memorial Scholarship presented by Melody Barnett – Alex Barnett
Ag MOASK Awards presented by Dustin Lambertsen – Cole Anderson, Kamryn Brown, Dylan Drummond, Jozee Eaton, Abbie Harms, Gabe Harms, Mason McMahon, Luke Morey, Connor Morton, Lizzie Schlueter, Brayden Smith, Brooklyn Wennihan, Quin Staten, Bresayda Jimenez, Rainy Nordhausen, and Jaeka Wiley
Perfect Attendance Awards presented by Kevin Dodson – Drew Johnson, Delainee White, Karson White, and Alegra Brodrick
A+ Recognition presented by Kevin Dodson – Claire Martin, Tommi Martin, Alexis Bywater, Alex Barnett, Jozee Eaton, Addison Noland, Jersi Poppa, Ian Stepp, and Brooklyn Wennihan
Northwest Technical School Recognition – Shelby McNaughton and Linkin Murry (welding)
Mr. and Miss THS presented by Deyton Thomson – Ian Stepp and Alex Barnett
College Preparatory Certification Recognition – Alex Barnett, Jozee Eaton, Claire Martin, Ian Stepp, and Brooklyn Wennihan
The publications class recognized Yearbook Dedication Recipients – Bob Heddinger, Jan Taylor, Jayne Martin, Barb Tubbs, and Terry Peterson, all who came out of retirement to help fill school district positions this year
Top 5 Seniors – Jersi Poppa (5), Jozee Eaton (4), Claire Martin (3), Alex Barnett (salutatorian), and Brooklyn Wennihan (valedictorian)
Seniors read their classmates’ prophecies. Brooklyn Wennihan, senior class president, presented the class key to junior class president Abbie Harms. The 2024-25 Student Council election results were announced: River Dow, president; Gavyn Irvine, vice-president; Cole Anderson, secretary; and Luke Morey, treasurer.
The Pledge to the Tarkio School Flag was recited. The seniors filed out and the underclassmen moved up a row, signifying the move to the next grade level.
