The 2014 graduating class at Grundy R-5 High School in Galt got some sage advice from their fellow classmates during commencement exercises on Sunday afternoon.
Mikaela Munday, who was recognized as the top student in the class of 13, using a quote from Henry David Thoreau to challenge her classmates as they continue their lives following graduation.
“We have an opportunity to go out into the world and live our dreams, but it is up to us to take the first step,” she said. “We have to take our final steps out of high school and leave it behind, which won’t be easy, but it is a huge part of growing up.”
She talked about the changes each student has gone through during their time in school and that what was learned during that time can be used as each take the next steps in their lives.
“So many things are about to change, but we are ready to move on,” she said. “Now is the time we get to make the big decisions of our lives. Starting today, we are moving toward the next step forward and deciding where we will go next.”
Miss Munday talked about the changes the class has seen during their final year of high school and how those changes have also impacted their families.
“We owe them so much, but all I can really think to say is thank you for all your support and love that got us through high school,” she said. “We never could have done it without you.”
She also credited the teachers who have influenced each student’s life.
“Our teachers are a huge part of the reason we are who we are today,” she said. “They taught us so much and cared about us even when we made things difficult. They helped us learn all the things that we will use to make our futures bright.”
She concluded by saying each student has a destiny to fulfill, becoming the person each one can be.
“When I look out here and see my family, I hope that I have made them proud as I’m sure we all do. We all hope we are everything you expected. As we all say our goodbyes and walk out into the world, we know we have the ground below us and we can keep our heads held high.”
Salutatorian Mason Larson talked about how graduation is possibly “the last time we will all be together as a class” as each one begins a new chapter in their lives. He noted how he came to Grundy R-5 as a freshman, having made the decision to come there after completing his elementary education at Laredo, and how that decision was one that will shape his life forever.
“Looking back now at the past four years, I know I made the correct decision because this class took me in like I had grown up here all of my life,” he said. “Not only did they accept me as their friend, but their parents took me in as one of their own.”
Larson recognized the parents, teachers and friends who he said “pushed us to always do our best and shaped us into the people we are now.”
“Next year is going to be an interesting experience for me, because I will no longer have my mom to cook for me all the time or do all my laundry. I will no longer have the nice tools or shop to build derby cars anytime I want with my dad. As nice as it was to have all these things there for me, it’s now time to move on and use everything I was taught, to grow and become independent.”
He concluded his remarks by noting it took him 18 years to really start seeing “how fast time flies by.”
“It has taken me 18 years to figure out that I should never take a day for granted and live each day I get to the fullest. The last four have been fun-filled with lots of great memories. School has been full of ends – the end of sports seasons and the end of school years. Until now, nothing has been final; there has always been another semester or another year of school. But today things are different. Today’s graduation marks the conclusion of our high school careers at Grundy R-5. Today we will go our separate ways with a common legacy as the Grundy R-5 Class of 2014.”
Both Miss Munday and Larson received academic medals for their achievements from Principal Randy Huffman. Diplomas were presented by Superintendent Rob Deaver and R-5 Board President Eric Gann.
Destin Gann, Mason Larson, Makaela Munday, Elizabeth Novak and Clayton Radcliff were recognized for having completed requirements to receive their A-Plus certification, allowing them to have their tuition paid at any public two-year community college or vocational-technical school in Missouri. Counselor Kimbra Mullenix also announced the scholarships and awards received by each individual student.
Wade Payton Brown – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves, State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager and the Donnie Callen Memorial Scholarship of $100.
Christopher Michael Bummer II – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves, State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager, Grand River Technical School Certificate of completion in Health Services and the Breaking Traditions Honor Student of the Year Award, from which he will receive a scholarship in the amount of $350 to North Central Missouri College.
Tanner David Clem – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves and State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager.
Shelby Marie Eckert – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves, State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager and Grand River Technical School Certificate of completion in Health Services.
Stuart Troy Eller – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves, State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager, Grand River Technical School Certification in Auto Service Technology, the President’s Award for Education Excellence with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri Scholarship in the amount of $500, Tech Prep Scholarship from Barnes Baker Motors and Grand River Technical School in the amount of $250, Linn State Technical College and Foley Equipment Scholarship in the amount of $1,000, Linn State Technical College and Ameren Callaway Plant Scholarship in the amount of $1,000, he Grundy R-V Alumni Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 and the aughter of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award.
Destin Ray Gann – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair – U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves, State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager, the Herff Jones Believe in You Principal’s Award, the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, the President’s Award for Education Excellence with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, the American Youth Foundation I Dare You Award, the Grundy R-5 Alumni Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 and the D. Lee Cloyed Scholarship of $250.
Mason Dean Larson – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves, State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager, the Josten’s Scholarship Award for Salutatorian, the George Washington Carver Award for graduating in the top 10 percent of the senior class, the President’s Award for Education Excellence with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, the American Citizenship Award, the United States Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award, the Laredo Lions Club Scholarship in the amount of $200, the Galt Lions Club Salutatorian Scholarship of $200, the Laredo Alumni Scholarship in the amount of $500, the Pebble Horn Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,250 and the MFA Foundation Scholarship of $2,000. He is the only senior who to receive the Grundy R-5 Academic Excellence Award for being on the “A” honor roll all 4 quarters of the 2013-2014 school year
Mikaela Susan Munday – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves, State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager, the Josten’s Scholarship Award for Valedictorian , the College Preparatory Certificate, the President’s Award for Education Excellence with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, the George Washington Carver Award for graduating in the top 10 percent of the senior classs, the Donnie Callen Memorial Scholarship of $100, the Galt Lions Club Valedictorian Scholarship of $200, the Pebble Horn Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,250, the Missouri Western State University Governors’ Academic Scholarship in the amount of $1,500, the North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees Scholarship in the amount of $600, the North Central Missouri College Jeanette Hoffman Robison Scholarship in the amount of $350, the Northwest Missouri State University Tower Scholarship in the amount of $2,500, the Truman State University President’s Honorary Scholarship of $500, the Truman State University A-Plus Recognition Scholarship of $500, the Truman State University Bulldog Legacy Scholarship $1,000, the Truman State University Combined Ability Scholarship $2,000 and the Trenton Coca-Cola Scholarship of $100.
Elizabeth Anne Novak – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves, State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager, the United States Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award, the American Youth Foundation I Dare You Award, the American Citizenship Award, the Donnie Callen Memorial Scholarship of $100, the Grundy R-5 CTA Scholarship in the amount of $250, the Velda Kincaid Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,500, the Central Methodist University Basketball Scholarship in the amount of $4,000 per year, the University of Central Missouri Red and Black Scholarship in the amount $500 per year, the Central Methodist University Dean’s Scholarship in the amount of $7,000 per year and the Daughter of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award.
Elliott Scott O’Neal – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves and the State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager.
Leilani Shacara Pratt – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves, State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager, the President’s Award for Education Excellence with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, the College Preparatory Certificate, the North Central Missouri College Everett and Hazel Frey Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $350 and the Certificate of Completion for participating in the Upward Bound program at North Central Missouri College
Clayton Wayne Radcliff – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves, State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager, the President’s Award for Education Excellence with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, the North Central Missouri College Lynn Freeman Scholarship in the amount of $350, the Trenton Coca-Cola Scholarship in the amount of $100, the Grundy R-5 Alumni Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 and was named the alternate of the D. Lee Cloyed Scholarship of $250.
Leigh Ashley Ronayne – Missouri House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition from Mike Lair, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Graduation from Sam Graves, State of Missouri Senate Certificate of Recognition from Brad Lager and the Grand River Technical School Certificate of Completion in Collision Technology.