Abbie Harms, Connor Morton, and the other graduating seniors filed out of the gym carrying their chairs so that the juniors had no seats when they moved up a row, signifying moving up a grade.
The Tarkio High School Class of 2025 top five seniors are, from left to right (1st to 5th), Kamryn Brown, Lizzie Schlueter, Abbie Harms, Cole Anderson, and Connor Morton.
River Dow and Lizzie Schlueter were named Mr. and Miss THS and were also named the Outstanding Senior Athletes.
The Tarkio High School Awards Assembly was held Thursday, May 8, 2025, 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 2025 walked into the gym to their class song “Vienna” by Billy Joel and then everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance. THS Counselor Ma-risa 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 Eryn Stepp – Cole Anderson and River Dow
Tarkio Rotary Club scholarships presented by Dean Sparks – Charles “Chuck” Sheppard Memorial Scholarship, River Dow; Dr. Gavin L. Doughty Memorial Scholarship, Kamryn Brown; Tarkio High School Interact Scholarships, Abbie Harms and Lizzie Schlueter
Tarkio Technology Institute Scholarship presented by Mark Staten – Cameron Kephart. Mark also recognized recent Tarkio Tech graduates and next year’s students.
Carol A. Schlueter Memorial Scholarship presented by Matt Schlueter – Abbie and Gabe Harms
Tarkio First Baptist Church Deacon Memorial Scholarship presented by Matt Schlueter – Sydnee Bruns, Owen DeRosier, Abbie Harms, Gabe Harms, Lizzie Schlueter, Kamryn Brown, and Jillian Hannah
CTA scholarships presented by Blu Dow – Carlotta White Scholarship, River Dow; and the Wheatley Family Scholarship, Abbie Harms
P.E.O. Chapter FF Scholarship presented by Ellie Graves – Lizzie Schlueter
George V. Smith Tarkio Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship presented by Tommy Dow – Alyson Wooten and River Dow
Lions Club scholarships presented by Steve Klute – Sydnee Bruns and Colton Hall
St. John’s Lutheran Church Scholarship presented by Steve Klute – River Dow
AgPartners Scholarship presented by Aaron Madron – Abbie Harms
Kemper Family Memorial scholarship presented by Marisa Hedlund – Abbie Harms
Louis E. Bell Trust presented by Marisa Hedlund – Lizzie Schlueter
Luretta Ruth Turnbull Memorial Scholarship presented by Marisa Hedlund – Connor Morton
Ellis Foundation Scholarships presented by Marisa Hedlund – Owen DeRosier and Gabe Harms
I V Bats Scholarship Fund presented by Marisa Hedlund – Lizzie Schlueter
Northwest Missouri State University Awards presented by Marisa Hedlund – University Scholar, Alex Erickson; Merit, Jillian Hannah; Distinguished Scholar – Connor Morton
University of Missouri-Columbia awards presented by Marisa Hedlund – Bright Flight, Elyzabeth Schnell, Mizzou Legacy, Thomas Kooyumjan Family, and Chancellor’s Award Scholarships, Lizzie Schlueter; Curators Award and Elyzabeth Schnell Scholarship, Abbie Harms
Park University Scholarship presented by Marisa Hedlund – McAfee Scholarship, Sydnee Bruns
Missouri College Preparatory Studies Recognition – Gabe Harms, Lizzie Schlueter, Kamryn Brown, Abbie Harms, River Dow, and Connor Morton
Top 5 Seniors – Connor Morton (5), Cole Anderson (4), Abbie Harms (3), Lizzie Schlueter (salutatorian), and Kamryn Brown (valedictorian)
The Unites States House of Representatives (Sam Graves) and Missouri House of Representatives (Jeff Farnan) recognized all graduating seniors: Cole Ryan Anderson, Cameron Isaiah Brooks, Kamryn Denise Brown, Sydnee Leigh Bruns, Ariel Brezie Bywater, Charley Ann Caudill, Haylee Lynnae Clark, Owen Christopher DeRosier, River Stanley Dow, Alexander Angelo Erickson, Colton Dean Hall, Jillian Nacole Hannah, Abigail Louise Harms, John Gabriel Harms, Claudia Marie Hernandez, Jayla Marie Irvine, Cameron Michael Kephart, Luke Aron Morey, Connor Ray Morton, Elizabeth Carol Schlueter, Blake William Wesley Simmons, Teagen Reece Elizabeth Wennihan, and Alyson Nicole Wooten
National Honor Society Outstanding Citizen of the Year presented by Lizzie Schlueter – Abbie Harms
National Honor Society Outstanding Students of the Quarter (4th Quarter) presented by Ellie Graves – Josh Schlueter, Bailey Wennihan, Delainee White, and Brinkley Wright
Academic letters and bars presented Ellie Graves – 3rd 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; 2nd year, Robbie Armstrong, Haylee Clark, Dylan Drummond, Emily Gebhards, Bresayda Jimenez, Zoe Madron, Rainy Nordhausen, Bo Peregrine, Raelee Russell, Olivia Schaefer, Blake Simmons, Quin Staten, Isaac Vette, Carter Wennihan, Ken-nedy White, and Jaeka Wiley; and 1st year, Danika Agnew, Bella Bywater, Grace Caudill, Velicity Hegstrom, Dalton Hogue, Finn Hurst, Danni Irvine, Holly Litherbury, Parker Livengood, Bailey Wennihan, Brody Wennihan, and Delainee White
Community Blood Center Blood Drive Scholarship – Sydnee Bruns
Junior High Academic Bowl Recognition presented by Beth Glidden – High Points, Vivi Hale; 2nd Highest Points/Captain, Owen Vette; and other members, Gracie Walker, Tristan Burke, Tucker Hurst, Vera Hale, Winston Hogue, Landry Hurst, and Bryar Wennihan
High School Academic Bowl Recognition presented by Casey Martin – Easton Madron, Ben Rolf, Dalton Hogue, Finn Hurst, Isaac Vette, Lizzie Schlueter, Gabe Harms, and Captain Abbie Harms (2nd Team All-Conference)
Florence Prather McMillan English Award presented by Casey Martin – Kamryn Brown
Hixson Family Memorial Scholarship presented by Casey Martin – Lizzie Schlueter
Smoke Signals Recognition presented by Casey Martin (Friday, May 9, would be their 175th episode) – Lizzie Schlueter, Gabe Harms, Blake Simmons, Connor Morton, Luke Morey, River Dow, Owen DeRosier, and Cole Anderson
Liberty Theatre Scholarship presented by Casey Martin – Abbie Harms
275 Scholar Athlete Awards presented by Joe Unternahrer – Abbie Harms, Gabe Harms, Lizzie Schlueter, Cole Anderson, Kamryn Brown, Zoe Madron, Quin Staten, Rainy Nordhausen, and Isaac Vette
Outstanding Senior Athlete Award presented by Joe Unternahrer – River Dow and Lizzie Schlueter
KMA Sportscaster Scholarship presented by Joe Unternahrer – River Dow
M. David Palmeiro Scholarship (presented to a senior outstanding football player) – Owen DeRosier
State Music Recognition presented by Melody Barnett – Abbie Harms, clarinet solo (bronze); Zoe Madron, vocal solo (silver); Vocal Mixed 8 (Brody Wennihan, Finn Hurst, Quin Staten, River Dow, Lizzie Schlueter, Sydnee Bruns, Zoe Madron, and Bailey Wennihan)(silver); Quin Staten, vocal solo (gold); and Vocal Boys’ 5 (Finn Hurst, Quin Staten, Brody Wennihan, River Dow, and Jeremy Bomar)(gold)
Bruce Hogue Memorial Scholarship presented by Melody Barnett – Connor Morton
Duke Nuckolls Memorial Scholarship presented by Melody Barnett – River Dow and Sydnee Bruns
Mimi “Anne Barnett” Scholarship presented by Melody Barnett – Sydnee Bruns and Owen DeRosier
MFA Scholarship presented by Dustin Lambertsen – River Dow, Lizzie Schlueter, and Abbie Harms
National FFA and Tractor Supply Scholarship presented by Dustin Lambertsen – Gabe Harms
David Joesting Scholarship presented by Dustin Lambertsen – Abbie Harms
FFA Chords presented by Dustin Lambertsen – Abbie Harms, Gabe Harms, Lizzie Schlueter, and Kamryn Brown
Ag MOASK IRC Recognition presented by Dustin Lambertsen (17 of Tarkio’s 20 participants passed, one of the largest groups to do so in the state) – Danika Agnew, Kamryn Brown, River Dow, Teahen Hannah, Abbie Harms, Gabe Harms, Finn Hurst, Aiden Jimenez, Parker Livengood, Gavin Mattice, Rainy Nordhausen, Lizzie Schlueter, Brody Wennihan, Quin Staten, Bailey Wennihan, Delainee White, and Jaeka Wiley
FCCLA Regional Scholarship presented by Dara Wennihan – Sydnee Bruns
Perfect Attendance Awards presented by Terry Petersen – 6th grade, Jenna Gebhards and Brinkley Wright; 7th grade, Ava Brown; freshman, Karsyn White; juniors, Emily Gebhards and Carter Wennihan; and senior, Lizzie Schlueter
A+ Recognition presented by Terry Petersen – Cole Anderson, Kamryn Brown, Sydnee Bruns, Owen DeRosier, River Dow, Abbie Harms, Gabe Harms, Luke Morey, and Connor Morton
Northwest Technical School Recognition – Outstanding Attendance, Kale Lekey, Carter Wennihan, Mason McMahon, Bo Peregrine, and Olivia Schaefer; 1st year certificate for Automotive Technology, Kale Lekey, Mason McMahon, Carter Wennihan, and Bo Peregrine
Mr. and Miss THS – River Dow and Lizzie Schlueter
The publications class recognized Yearbook Dedication Recipients – Aaron Behrens and Kaitlin Dunkin
Seniors read their classmates’ prophecies. Kamryn Brown, senior class president, presented the class key to junior class president Quin Staten. River Dow announced that Bo Peregrine had been voted as the 2025-26 Student Body President. Bo led everyone in the Pledge to the Tarkio School Flag. The seniors filed out carrying their chairs, which would have been occupied by the juniors moments later when each class moved up a row, signifying the move to the next grade level (a traditional prank).
