Bannack Skillen was this year’s valedictorian and Chaney Vogler was this year’s salutatorian.
The top 10 graduating seniors, from left to right, are: Peyton Lager, Ozey Hurst, Reed Miller, Carter Gebhards, Dereck Dush, Tarver Muntz, Jaysa Welch, Rylee Jenkins, Chaney Vogler and Bannack Skillen.
Dr. Bollinger welcomed everyone to the Rock Port R-II graduation ceremony.
Mrs. Stacy Hughes was the guest speaker for the Class of 2024.
Ozey Hurst and Cade Makings walk in together.
Abby Palmer presents Brentyn Herron with a New Horizons scholarship.
Alisha Lomax is presented her diploma by board member Regan Griffin.
Jenasey Mace gives her mom a hug and a flower.
Carter Gebhards and Tarver Muntz walk out as new alumni of Rock Port R-II.
They are official graduates as their hats fly.
Rock Port R-II School held commencement exercises for the Class of 2024 Sunday, May 19, 2024, at Rock Port High School.
Graduates included: Dereck Paul Dush, Dakota Alan Evans, Carter Reid Gebhards, Augustus Walter Heintz, Brentyn Miles Herron, Jacobi Landon Hogue, Ozey Dean Hurst, Rylee Irene Jenkins, Dylan Nichole Kemerling, Peyton Gregory Lager, Alisha Dawn Lomax, Jenasey Hayven Mace, Cade Myles Makings, Reed Andrew Miller, Abigail Marie Minino, Tarver Lee Muntz, Ryan Keith Paris, Titan Allen Schebaum, Bannack Richter Skillen, Chaney Lynn Vogler, and Jaysa Rae Welch.
The class motto was “You can only control what you can control.” The class colors were blue and silver, and the class flower was a blue and white chrystanthemum.
National Honor Society members were Dereck Dush, Carter Gebhards, Ozey Hurst, Rylee Jenkins, Dylan Kemerling, Peyton Lager, Reed Miller, Tarver Muntz, Bannack Skillen, Chaney Vogler, and Jaysa Welch.
Class officers were: Carter Gebhards, president; Bannack Skillen, vice-president; Chaney Vogler, secretary; Rylee Jenkins, treasurer; Jaysa Welch and Ozey Hurst, student council representatives; Dylan Kemerling, student body president; Bannack Skillen, student body vice-president; Dereck Dush, student body treasurer; and Carter Gebhards, student body secretary.
Class sponsors were Mrs. Kerri Rodriguez, Mrs. Crystal Goins, and Mrs. Carrie Driskell.
Ushers were Cali Driskell, Claire Spiegel, Jaymes Herron, and Malachi Skillen.
Seniors entered to “Pomp & Circumstance,” played by Mrs. Lynn Hunter, pianist. Dr. Rex Bollinger, Superintendent, welcomed those present.
Mrs. Stacy Hughes was the guest speaker.
Scholarships and awards were presented by Dr. Bollinger, Mr. Donnie Parsons, High School Principal, and Mrs. Shauna Farmer, Counselor.
The top 10 seniors of the class of 2024 were recognized. They were: Peyton Lager, 10th; Ozey Hurst, 9th; Reed Miller, 8th; Carter Gebhards, 7th; Dereck Dush, 6th; Tarver Muntz, 5th; Jaysa Welch, 4th; Rylee Jenkins, 3rd; Chaney Vogler, salutatorian (based on a 4-point weighted scale, with a cumulative grade point average of 4.6201); and Bannack Skillen, valedictorian (with a cumulative grade point average of 4.7222).
Mr. Parsons presented the Class of 2024, and diplomas were presented by Mrs. Joanna Burke and Mr. Regan Griffin, school board members.
Members of the Class of 2024, their plans and awards received were as follows:
Gus Heintz attended Northwest Vocational Technical School in Maryville for two years studying Automotive Technology. Gus plans to join the Air National Guard.
Ryan Paris received the Rock Port FFA Alumni Scholarship, and a two-year Welding Vocational Certificate from Northwest Technical School in Maryville. Ryan plans to work and tour the rodeo circuit after graduation.
Jenasey Mace is an A+ student from the class of 2024. Students on this program must document 50 hours of tutoring or mentoring, achieve 95% cumulative attendance over four 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 fees or the completion of a degree program, whichever comes first. Jenasey also received a four year Warren and Evalyn Morgan Scholarship. 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. Northwest Missouri State University has given Jenasey a renewable University Scholar Award. She will attend Northwest in the fall and major in Early Childhood Education.
Alisha Lomax also qualified for the A+ Scholarship. Alisha plans to take full advantage of her A+ tuition scholarship at North Central Missouri College in Trenton, Missouri, next fall.
Abigail Minino received the Northwest Missouri State University Scholar Award renewable for four years. Abby will become a Northwest Bearcat and will major in Pre-Vet classes.
Dylan Kemerling was the first recipient of the newest scholarship in honor of Rock Port resident, Bertie Stephens. Bertie’s family hopes to carry on this new tradition for many years. Dylan was also the awardee of the Missouri Association of Administrators Scholarship. Dylan completed the criteria to obtain the A+ Scholarship and received the FFA and Morgan Trust Scholarships. Dylan will attend Northwest Missouri State University where she will utilize her University Scholar Award to pursue a degree in Marketing.
Cade Makings received the Outstanding Senior Male Athlete Award at the high school assembly. He was also honored to receive the Tony Gaines Sportsmanship Award that same day. Cade received a Steve and Marie Proctor Scholarship, an FFA Scholarship and the Warren and Evalyn Morgan Scholarship. Cade plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Omaha and study business management.
Brentyn Herron received a New Horizons Scholarship, an FFA Scholarship, and a scholarship from Missouri Welding Institute. Brentyn attended Northwest Technical School in Maryville and will receive a two year welding certificate from Vo Tech. Brentyn was the first senior to get back his Elementary Principal’s Art Gallery picture that was on display at graduation. Brentyn will be attending Missouri Welding Institute in Nevada, Missouri.
Dakota Evans received the Atchison County Development Vocational Scholarship. ACDC invests in our students, hoping to see them back in Atchison County in future years. The ACDC board members realize the value of the vocational programs in our small community and hope to see more applications for this vocational scholarship in the future. Dakota also received the Pella Rollscreen Foundation’s Sons and Daughters Scholarship, an FFA scholarship, and an A+ Scholarship. Dakota plans to attend Missouri State Tech School in Linn, Missouri, to study radiation protection.
Titan Schebaum has earned a two year certificate in automotive technology from Northwest Missouri Vocational School in Maryville. Titan plans to go straight into the workforce after graduation.
Jacobi Hogue attended the culinary arts program for two years at Northwest Technical School in Maryville. Jacobi plans to continue enhancing his culinary skills at Metropolitan Community College.
Peyton Lager was awarded the MFA Scholarship, the four year institution ACDC Scholarship, the A+ Scholarship, the Warren and Evalyn Morgan Scholarship, and an FFA Alumni Award. Peyton will utilize his renewable NWMSU Excellence Scholarship while attending Northwest and majoring in Agronomy.
Ozey Hurst was a Rock Port FFA Alumni recipient and was a qualifier for the Missouri A+ Award. Ozey plans to attend Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, where he will seek a degree in business.
Reed Miller received a New Horizons Scholarship and the A+ Scholarship. Reed plans to attend the State Tech School of Missouri in Linn to obtain a degree in Nuclear Radiation Protection/Operations.
Carter Gebhards was awarded the American Legion Senior Male Citizenship Award and the Missouri State High School Athletics Association Award of Excellence at the high school awards assembly. Carter was chosen for the Louis Bell Scholarship through Community Scholarships of Northwest Missouri. Louis Bell was a former farmer in the Fairfax, Missouri, area, who established the Louis E. Bell Trust Grants. It is a scholarship program to honor the hard work of high school and college students from Rock Port, Fairfax, and Tarkio. Carter received a Bertie Stephens Scholarship and an FFA Alumni Scholarship. Carter will be attending Northwest Missouri State University where he will use his Academic Excellence Award to study graphic design.
Dereck Dush was a recipient of the Warren and Evalyn Morgan Scholarship and the Charles “Chalky” and Pauline Arnold Scholarship from the Fairfax Methodist Church. He also received the Rock Port United Methodist Church – Paul and Ruby Cox Award. Dereck also received the Maurice Bellis Scholarship and an Access Grant from Missouri Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri. Dereck will major in mining engineering.
Tarver Muntz received an American Legion Award, the Warren and Evalyn Morgan Scholarship, the Northwest Missouri Sportsman’s Club Scholarship, and a Curator Academic Scholarship from the University of Missouri in Columbia where he will attend in the fall to major in biochemistry.
Jaysa Welch was the awardee of the Watson Outreach Scholarship in honor of Gilbert Holmes. The Rock Port’s Youth Athletic Association honored Jaysa with the $500 Bill Andrews Memorial Scholarship. Bill was one of the founding members of the RP Optimist Club and spent many hours supporting youth activities in Rock Port and the surrounding area. Jaysa received a Warren and Evalyn Morgan Scholarship, the A+ Scholarship, and the Steve and Marie Proctor Scholarship. Northwest Missouri State University awarded Jaysa the Academic Excellence Scholarship and an Access Grant. Jaysa will attend NWMSU this fall and major in early childhood education.
Rylee Jenkins received the RPHS Outstanding Female Athlete Award during the Rock Port High School awards assembly. She was congratulated on her accomplishments at state track with her state championship record discus throw and a women’s team championship trophy. Rylee received the FFA Alumni Scholarship, Steve and Marie Proctor Scholarship, the A+ Scholarship, the Warren and Evalyn Morgan Scholarships, the Rock Port Methodist Church Paul and Ruby Cox Scholarship and the Merle and Vera Walter Scholarship. Rylee will be attending Oklahoma State University in the fall. She has received the Oklahoma State University Out-of-State Achievement Scholarship, the Joseph Fleming Memorial Scholarship and has earned an athletic scholarship to compete in track and field. Rylee will be majoring in animal science/pre-veterinary medicine.
Chaney Vogler received the PEO Scholarship, American Legion Female Citizenship Award, and Missouri State High School Athletic Association Award of Excellence at the Rock Port High School awards assembly. Chaney also received the A+ Scholarship, the CTA Scholarship, the Beta Gals Scholarship, the Warren and Evalyn Morgan Scholarship, and the Merle and Vera Walter Scholarship and the Paul and Ruby Cox Scholarships from the Rock Port United Methodist Church. The Rock Port First Lutheran Church awarded Chaney their scholarship. Chaney was the second member of the class to have her Principal’s Art Gallery picture on display. Chaney will join the Bearcats at Northwest this fall and will utilize her NWMSU Academic Excellence Award to pursue her degree in Psychology.
Bannack Skillen was the second recipient of the Northwest Sportsman’ Club Scholarship. He also received the Rock Port United Methodist Church’s Paul and Ruby Cox Award, the Bertie Stephens Scholarship, the Warren and Evalyn Morgan Award, and the Rock Port National Honor Society’s Scholarship. Bannack was the only member of the class to earn the Presidential Award of Excellence certificate, 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. Based on his ACT score and GPA, the University of Missouri-Columbia will award Bannack the Chancellor Scholarship. Bannack will become a Tiger this fall and major in journalism.
The senior class presentation was enjoyed before graduates left the gym to their class song, “Good Riddance” by Green Day.
Graduates lined the halls of Rock Port High School where they were congratulated by family and friends.
