Faith Patterson, front left, the valedictorian for the Meeker High School Class of 2016, leads the graduating seniors in during the graduate procession Saturday morning in the MHS gymnasium. She is followed by 2016 Salutatorian Madi Shults and is accompanied by the remainder of the graduating class, of which there were 37 total seniors.
Each year, the members of the senior class choose who they would like to be their commencement speaker, and instructor Naomi Etchart, a math instructor at MHS, was their choice. Etchart spoke of the need to face the real world and that for the graduates it is time to realize that they are now adults and life will never be the same.
Above, the Meeker High School Chorus, under the direction of school district music director Jeff Hemingston, sang “The Road Not Taken.” Other class landmarks were: Class Motto: “It is what it is.” Class Colors: Red, White and Blue. Class Flower: Tiger Lily. Class Song: “Gonna Know We Were Here” by Jason Aldean. Class Officers: President T.J. Shelton; Vice President Devon Pontine; Treasurer Jacob Smith; Secretary Madi Shults. Class Sponsors: Naomi Etchart, Patricia Merrifield and Jeff Hemingson.
One of the traditions is at graduation the valedictorian, Faith Patterson, passes on the mantle (cape) signifying the valedictorian to the member or, in this case, members of the junior class who have the standing to be the valedictorian for the Class of 2017. Patterson passed on capes to nine students, all of whom tied for highest GPA in the class, including Madeline Amack, Cole Brown, Sheridan Harvey, Lori Ann Klinglesmith, Delenn Mobley, Kendra Nelson, Maggie Phelan, Meghan Smith and Casey Turner.
The student in the senior class who has the No. 2 grade point average is designated as salutatorian, and that honor befell Madi Shults with the Meeker High School Class of 2016. Shults, as salutatorian, also presented an address to the class, reminding her fellow seniors of the joys of the past couple years at MHS and the need to move on to being adult and accepting the challenges graduation bring.
Members of the Meeker School Board of Education handed out the diplomas to the graduating Class of 2016. Taking turns in greeting the graduates were board members, from left to right, Dave Smith, Dr. Robert Dorsett, Bud Ridings, Kevin Amack, Bill deVergie and Tom Allen. The Welcome to all present, the presentation of the Class of 2016 and the Closing Remarks were all presented by MHS Principal Amy Chinn.
There is no higher honor for a student to earn the scholastic standing of the highest grade point average in the class and become valedictorian. Faith Patterson, this year’s valedictorian, presented her speech after receiving her diploma, numerous honors and several scholarships. She challenged the students to move on and to be the best they can be.
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