THS Seniors Told To “Stand Tall”

Trenton High School science instructor Davina Gilham offered four pieces of advice to members of the 2017 senior class during baccalaureate exercises at the First Baptist Church on Wednesday night.
Using the book “Advice from a Tree” by Ilan Shamir, Mrs. Gilham told the seniors to “look up to the moon that shines down upon you and the mystery of the stars at night,” encouraging students to stand tall and proud every day. She said students need to “go out on a limb,” not always doing what is expected but doing what is right.
She asked students to “be flexible,” preparing their lives for the absolute worst case scenario. “That’s L.I.F.E.; lessons in (blank) experiences,” she said. “The F can represent future, lessons in future experiences; failed, lessons in failed experiences; fun, lessons in fun experiences.
“(And) sometimes you just have to throw your arms in the air and say ‘woo’,” which the students did.
The final piece of advice was to “remember your roots,” knowing that without roots, “you have no growth.”
“Our roots are our foundation and our support system,” she said. “Sometimes our roots hide in the ground, sometimes our roots are propped above and exposed. No matter how your roots grow, they are you.”
She concluded by telling students to “flex your limbs to the open sky, reaching for the moon and the stars. Remember, your place among the living things. Enjoy the view.”
Senior members of the THS Choir performed “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” and class president Ellis Gilham played the guitar, with the class singing “Hey Ya!” Connor Cotton gave the devotion, “No Place for Fear,” and the scripture reading from Joshua 1:9 was given by Spencer Harris. The invocation was given by Tessa Schlatter, Mariah Fox gave the benediction and Mason Hooyman gave the welcome. Katherine Warner provided music as the students entered the church sanctuary.
Earlier in the evening, THS seniors received several scholarships and awards during a program in the high school gym. The list of awards and their recipients included:
North Central Missouri College: Board of Trustees Scholarship – Jaylen Neff, Jacob Trickel and Mickenzey Willey.
North Central Missouri College Foundation: Willis W. Alexander Memorial Scholarship – Mickenzey Willey; Church Women United of Grundy County Scholarship – Mariah Fox; Lynn Freeman Scholarship – Jonathan Burnfin and Jordain Oshel; Everett and Hazel Frey Memorial Scholarship – Karli Crawford, Shayla Woodside, Breanna Chambers and Logan Lowrey; Margaret Ellsworth PEO Scholarship – Jaylen Neff; NCMC Foundation Knowledge Fund – Nate Swann; C.F. Russell Scholarship – Whitley Richman.
Certificate of Completion of the Upward Bound Program at North Central Missouri College – Jonathan Burnfin, Kayla Geyer and Mickenzey Willey.
Robert Bailey Memorial Scholarship to NCMC – Luke Lewis.
Charles Holmes Memorial/Trenton Rotary Club Scholarship to NCMC – Jordain Oshel.
NCMC Softball Scholarship – Jaylen Neff.
NCMC Men’s Golf Scholarship – Nate Swann.
NCMC Basketball Scholarship – Whitley Richman.
Community Action Partnership of North Central Missouri Scholarship – Aidan Clark.
Shelter Insurance Scholarship – Mason Hooyman.
Wright Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship – Mickenzey Willey and Ralee Wilson.
Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri Scholarship – Mariah Fox.
Cara McClellan Agency, LLC – American Family Insurance Scholarship – Karli Crawford.
Kadyn McClellan Memorial Scholarship Fund – Mariah Fox.
BTC Area Youth Benefit Scholarship Award – Mason  Hooyman.
Cindy Gott Memorial Scholarship – Jaylen Neff and Ralee Wilson.
GRM Networks Local Scholarship – Katerina Black.
Trenton Kiwanis Scholarship – Rebekah Shackelford.
Earl Collins Foundation Scholarship – Rylee Berti.
MFA Scholarship – Mariah Fox.
Grundy County Farm Bureau Scholarship – Karli Crawford and Sarah Walker.
Brad Lovell Memorial Scholarship – Jonathan Burnfin.
Missouri Association of Rural Education MARE Scholarship – Connor Cotton.
Trenton Masonic Lodge Scholarship – Jonathan Burnfin, Karli Crawford and Jordain Oshel.
Trenton Elks Lodge #801 – Mason Hooyman.
Trenton Lions Club Scholarship – Aidan Clark and Connor Cotton.
John T. Belcher Scholarship – Mason Hooyman.
DAR Good Citizen Award – Jonathan Burnfin and Mariah Fox.
Community Blood Center Scholarship – Jordain Oshel.
2017 Outstanding FCCLA Leadership Scholarship Award – Mason Hooyman.
The Green Hills Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation Scholarship – Emily Lynch.
Merle and Harold Ebbe Scholarship to NCMC – Mickenzey Willey.
Trenton Coca-Cola Scholarship to NCMC – Jordain Oshel and Jacob Trickel.
American Citizenship Award – Mariha Fox.
George Washington Carver Awards – Rylee Berti, Katerina Black, Aidan Clark, Connor Cotton, Ellis Gilham, Mason Hooyman, Harli Michael, Jaylen Neff and Mickenzey Willey.
KMZU Academic Achievement Award – Mason Hooyman.
Anonymous Scholarship – Dylan Gilbertson, McKaylah Gordon, Cole Little, Tessa Schlatter and Kayla Geyer.
FTA Scholarship – Connor Cotton.
Missouri Higher Education Academic Scholarship, Bright Flight – Katerina Black, Aidan Clark and Jaylen Neff.
Joseph L. Norton Scholarship/Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post #919 – Emily Lynch.
Murphy Memorial Trust Scholarship – Mariah Fox.
Student Council Scholarship – Rylee Berti, Mariah Fox and Tessa Schlatter.
Mike Harper Leadership Scholars Award – Katerina Black.
Northwest Missouri State University: Tower Scholarship, Cultural Level 3 – Christopher Brown; Distinguished Scholar, A+ Scholarship, Alumni Scholarship and Distinguished Scholar Day Scholarship – Connor Cotton; Northwest Merit – Kayla Geyer; University Scholar – Tenna Roberts. Academic Excellence and Missouri Girls State Scholarship – Tessa Schlatter; Academic Excellence – Sarah Walker.
Truman State University: A+ Recognition Scholarship – Kaitlyn Mounce; President’s Honorary Scholarship, TruMerit Scholarship and A+ Recognition Scholarship – Wyatt Whittle; President’s Honorary Scholarship and A+ Recognition Scholarship – Zack Maberry.
University of Missouri-Columbia: Bright Flight Scholarship, Chancellors Award and CAFNR Scholarship – Katerina Black; William A. Nelson Scholarship – Brayden Herring; Curator’s Award, Bright Flight Scholarship and Excellence Award – Rylee Berti.
Coe College: Impact Award, Trustee Scholarship and WJ Distinguished Trustee Scholarship – Aidan Clark.
Central College: Cornerstone Scholarship, Journey Scholar and Entrepreneurship Department Award – Ty Sayre.
William Jewell College: Faculty Scholarship and Athletic Scholarship – Jacob Davis.
UMKC School of Pharmacy: Early Assurance Program – Hannah Kennebeck.
American University: Mentorship Program – Ellis Gilham.
Kansas City Art Institute: KCAI Merit Scholarship and A+ Award – Rebekah Shackelford.
Grand River Technical School Certificates of Completion and Tech Prep Certification: Industrial Welding – Tylor Doolittle, Alex Parrack and Seth Reeter; Computer Service Technology – Dylan Gilbertson; Auto Service Technology – Brenden Johnson.
Missouri Scholars 100 “Honorable Mention” – Jaylen Neff.
President’s Award for Educational Excellence – Dalton Berry, Rylee Berti, Katerina Black, Jonathan Burnfin, Aidan Clark, Connor Cotton, Karli Crawford, Brayden Herring, Mason Hooyman, Hannah Kennebeck, Jaylen Neff, Tessa Schlatter, Rebekah Shackelford, Jacob Trickel, Sarah Walker and Wyatt Whittle.
Perfect Attendance – Dylan Gilbertson and Jacob Trickel.
United States Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award – Connor Cotton and Whitley Richman.
R.P. Hill Memorial Award – Corbyn Guile and Luke Lewis.
Hamilton Family Endowment Fund for Excellence Scholarship – Mason Hooyman.
Ryan Bosley Memorial Scholarship – Ellis Gilham.
Athletics/Activities Scholastic Achievement Award – Connor Cotton, Karli Crawford, Mariah Fox, Mason Hooyman, Jordain Oshel, Whitley Richman, Tenna Roberts, Tessa Schlatter, Rebekah Shackelford, Wyatt Whittle and Shayla Woodside.
MSHSAA Award of Excellence – Austin Burkeybile and Tenna Roberts.
C.F. Russell Award – Connor Cotton and Whitley Richman.
Junior Mullenix Memorial Sports Scholarship – Nate Swann.
Seniors who qualified for the Missouri A+ Program were also recognized.