FEATURING: • Concordia High School • Saint Paul Lutheran High School • Santa Fe High School INSIDE: • 2013 graduate biographies • Graduate well wishes • Top student interviews
CONCORDIAN THE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 — 24 PAGES
Concordia High School Class of 2013 PAGE 2 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Celeste Anderson
Alan Arnold
Timothy Farmer
Miranda Heineken
Kayla Brackman
Tatum Bredehoeft
Anthony Fetterling Jesse Flandermeyer
Cory Howard
Celeste Paige Anderson is the daughter of Todd Anderson of Concordia. Her activities and honors include choir, Academic C-Club, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Future Farmers of America (FFA), National Honor Society (NHS), quiz bowl and softball manager. She plans to attend the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg and major in psychology. Alan David Arnold is the son of David and Debbie Arnold of Emma. His activities include football. He plans to attend State Fair Community College in Sedalia and major in criminal justice. Kayla Marie Brackman is the daughter of Troy Brackman of Concordia and Elisa Oetting of Concordia. Her activities and honors include basketball, softball, flag corps captain, Academic C-Club, Athletic C-Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), student council treasurer and FCCLA vice president. She plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in athletic training. Tatum Lucille Bredehoeft is the daughter of Michael and Melina Gunter of Concordia and Mark Bredehoeft of Springfield. Her activities and honors
Hailee Langkrahr
Hayden Brown
Jarret Caldwell
Kaleb Curtis
Jordan Foster
Bailey Fuehring
Sophia Gramates
Nicholas Limback
Mersadi Lucas
Brett McLanahan
include football cheerleading, basketball cheerleading captain, volleyball, C-Club, FCCLA, FFA, student council, A+ student program and family living top student. She plans to attend State Fair Community College and major in neonatal nursing. Hayden Patrick Brown is the son of Troy Brown of Concordia and Jeanne Brown of Concordia. His activities and honors include, C-Club, FFA, FBLA, Academic C-Club, track, all-conference and all-state football, allconference and all-state baseball. He plans to attend State Fair Community College. Jarret Ray Caldwell is the son of Darin Caldwell of Concordia and Colette Clayton of Liberty. His activities and honors include Academic C-Club, C-Club, football, FFA and FBLA. He plans to attend State Fair Community College and major in renewable energy technology. Kaleb Duncan Curtis is the son of Kenneth and Lushaun Curtis of Concordia. His activities include Academic C-Club, Art Club and FBLA. He plans to attend Brigham Young University in Rexburg, Idaho and major in graphic design. Timothy Adam Farmer is the son of Randy and
Mary Skidmore of Concordia. His activities and honors include football, basketball, track, band, C-Club and perfect attendance. He plans to attend State Fair Community College and major in education. Anthony Jerid Fetterling is the son of Jerry and Tina Fetterling of Concordia. After graduation he plans to seek employment. Jesse Lee Flandermeyer is the son of Tim and Cindy Flandermeyer of Concordia. His activities and honors include baseball, FFA, principal’s honor roll and C-Club. He plans to work as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning engineer. Jordan David Foster is the son of Andrew and Kristine Foster of Concordia. His activities and honors include football captain, student council senior class representative, Academic C-Club and Athletic C-Club. He plans to attend Blue River Community College in Independence and major in fire science. Bailey Marie Fuehring is the daughter of Kevin Fuehring of Concordia and Sarah Feuhring of Alma. Her activities and honors include C-Club, FBLA, FFA reporter, FCCLA, student council, Concordia Music (Continued next page)
Concordia High School Class of 2013
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — PAGE 3
Alicia Medford
Brian Meyer
DaKota Miller
Britlin Murray
Katlin Murray
Wade Nevels
Shannon Overturf
Brittany Sandefur
Staci Schlueter
Jesse Schnakenberg
Brandon Shearer
David Sherman
Danielle Small
Blake Smith
Haley Spalding
Lane Stone
Kyndal Suhr
Jordan Tyler
Kyle Wilson
Masters, band and volleyball. She plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in accounting and finance. Sophia Nicole Gramates is the daughter of Tom and Dawn Gramates of Concordia. Her activities and honors include basketball, volleyball, track, FBLA, journalism, Quill and Scroll Honor Society, academic excellence, journalism new comer of the year and superior sports photo award from the University of Missouri. She plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in special education. Miranda Marie Heineken is the daughter of Frank and Tammy Heineken of Concordia. Her activities and honors include basketball, FCCLA, Athletic C-Club, volleyball, track and cheerleading. She plans to attend State Fair Community College and major in nursing. Cory Alan Howard is the son of Angela Howard of Concordia and Charles Howard of Higginsville. His activities and honors include FFA, Ag mechanics repair maintenance, entrepreneurship Lexington FFA Chapter, football, band, choir and Vo-tech Valvone Award. He plans to work in the welding field. Hailee Nicole Langkrahr is the daughter of Curtis
and Tammy Langkrahr of Concordia. Her activities and honors include basketball, volleyball, softball, FBLA, FCCLA, class president, A+ student program, FFA, Athletic C-Club, Academic C-Club, all-conference and all-district basketball, all-conference and all-district volleyball, KMZU Dream Team and All-tournament team. She plans to attend State Fair Community College and become a dental hygienist. Nicholas Wade Limback is the son of Doug and Kim Limback of Higginsville. His activities include FFA. He plans to attend Linn State Technical College in Jefferson City and become a heavy equipment operator. Mersadi Rose Lucas is the daughter of Dan and Melissa Lucas of Concordia. Her activities and honors include volleyball, FCCLA, FBLA, FFA, NHS and quiz bowl. She plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in environmental science. Brett McLanahan graduated from Concordia High School in December. Alicia Jordan Medford is the daughter of Tracy and Tina Medford of Concordia. Brian Lee Meyer is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Meyer of Concordia. His activities and honors include
football, basketball, Academic C-Club, Athletic C-Club and principal’s honor roll. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in construction management. DaKota Lynn Miller is the daughter of Kevin and Cathy Miller of Concordia. Her activities and honors include volleyball, basketball, softball, track, Academic C-Club and Athletic C-Club. She plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in nursing and minor in psychology. Britlin Leeann Murray is the daughter of Wess and Christina Murray of Concordia. Her activities and honors include volleyball, basketball, softball, track, Big Time Basketball coach, C-Club, student council representative and member, FFA vice president and FCCLA secretary/treasurer. She plans to attend State Fair Community College and major in elementary education. Katlin Lynette Murray is the daughter of Wess and Christine Murray of Concordia. Her activities and honors include volleyball, basketball, softball, marching band twirler, concert band, Academic C-Club, Athletic C-Club, FBLA, FCCLA president, NHS treasurer, (Continued next page)
Concordia High School Seniors
PAGE 4 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Concordia Music Masters, student council, Big Time Basketball coach, I-70 All-conference, all-district and Wellington All-tournament team basketball, KMZU Dream Team, I-70 All-conference and all-tournament team softball, Top Student Awards in algebra I, health, law, civil war and computer applications and honor roll. She plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in nursing. Wade Alexander Nevels is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Derek Nevels of Concordia. His activities and honors include football, track and Concordia Music Masters. He is in the Missouri National Guard. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in criminal justice. Shannon Wade Overturf is the son of Risa Fiene of Concordia and Scott Overturf of Carrollton. His activities include baseball. He plans to attend Longview Community College in Lee’s Summit and major in automotive technology. Brittany Alexandra Sandefur is the daughter of Robert and Robbie Sandefur of Concordia. Staci Marie Schlueter is the daughter of Jeff and Tammy Schlueter of Concordia. Her activities and honors include all-conference and first team all-district volleyball, Wellington All-tournament team basketball, football cheerleading captain, marching band flags captain, concert band, student council president, NHS president, Academic C-Club, Athletic C-Club, class vice president and A+ student program. She plans to attend Missouri State University in Springfield and major in psychology and education. Jesse Lee Schnakenberg is the son of Randy and Kathy Schnakenberg. His activities and honors include basketball, track, C-Club and student council. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in sports management. Brandon Michael Shearer is the son of Eddie and Beth Renno of Concordia and Michael Shearer of Blue Springs. His activities include band, golf and FFA. He plans to attend State Fair Community College and major in automotive technology. David Michael Sherman is the son of Mike and Katie Link of Concordia. His activities include FFA and Lex La-Ray Technical School. He plans to work on the farm as a mechanic. Danielle Morgan Small is the daughter of Danny Small of Concordia and Danny and Lorie Beasley of Concordia. Her activities and honors include A+ student program, FCCLA vice president and secretary. She plans to attend State Fair Community College and major in special needs education. Blake Edward Smith is the son of Chuck and Larayne Smith of Concordia. His high school activities and honors include second team all-district football, baseball, basketball, track, Concordia Music Masters, C-Club, Big Time Basketball coach, A+ student program and marching band section leader. He plans to attend Ozark Technical College in Springfield and major in culinary arts. Haley Marie Spalding is the daughter of Craig and Debbie Spalding of Concordia. Her activities and honors include NHS, FFA, Academic C-Club, superintendent’s honor roll, FBLA and FCCLA. She plans to attend Missouri State University in Springfield and major in animal science. Lane Edward Stone is the son of Terry Stone of Concordia and Maggie Stone of Galva, Iowa. His honors include Academic C-Club. He plans to become a diesel technician/aluminum welder with TransWood Logistics.
Concordia High School Baccalaureate Concordia High School Gymnasium Sunday, April 28, 2013
Processional
“Fanfare and Processional” High School Band Welcome and Opening Prayer Pastor Alan Gatewood Bethel United Church of Christ Special Music “Lead On, O King Eternal” High School Band Scripture Reading Branch President Val Day, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Special Music “Praise His Holy Name!” High School Choir Speaker Branch President Val Day, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Special Presentation Senior Class Memories Prayer Aidan Stevenson Youth Director, New Life Assembly of God Benediction Pastor Alan Gatewood Bethel United Church of Christ The baccalaureate service was sponsored by the Concordia Interfaith Alliance. Commencement Exercises Concordia High School Gymnasium Friday, May 10, 2013 • 6:00 p.m.
Processional
“Pomp and Circumstance” High School Band Introduction of Speakers Troy Marnholtz, Principal Welcome Staci Schlueter Special Music “We Must Say Goodbye” High School Choir Senior Address Katlin Murray Special Music “I Want to Hold Your Hand” “Phantom of the Opera” High School Band Scholarships Kimberly Brunkhorst, Guidance Counselor Introduction of Board of Education President Troy Marnholtz, Principal Presentation of Diplomas Tony Bittiker, Board President Distribution of Roses to Family and Friends Mersadi Lucas Farewell Staci Schlueter Class Officers Hailee Langkrahr, President Staci Schlueter, Vice President Wade Nevels, Secretary Hayden Brown, Treasurer Katlin Murray and Jordan Foster, Student Council Representatives Aimee Bredehoeft and Jaren Whisler, Class Sponsors
Class Motto “If we cannot find the road to success, we will make one.” Class Flower — White Gerber Daisy
Class Colors — Black and Bright Orange
Kyndal Jamison Suhr is the daughter of Ron Suhr of Concordia and Nicole Taulmah of Windsor. Her activities include football and basketball cheerleading and yearbook. She plans to attend The Academy of Salon Professionals in Sedalia and major in cosmetology. Jordan William Tyler is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cody Tyler of Concordia. His activities and honors include A+ student program, Athletic C-Club, football, Black Watch Football Award, FFA, student council and FBLA. He is a member of the Missouri National Guard — C12 Bravo Combat Engineer. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in criminal psychology. Kyle Allen Wilson is the son of Jeff Wilson of Concordia and Barb Meyers of Raymore. His activities and honors include football, track, basketball, sophomore class president, student council vice president and member, Athletic C-Club and Academic C-Club. He plans to attend an electrical apprenticeship program and become a certified electrician.
Class of 2013: The future careers of this year’s high school graduates
(ARA) — High school seniors nationwide are preparing to graduate, receiving college acceptance letters and possibly enrolling in a college or university. The challenging economy has made many of these young adults acutely aware of the important role their degree can play when they face commencement once again, this time entering the job market. Some schools offer degree programs that address the skills required to enter fast-growing fields, such as cyber security, cloud computing, health care and accounting — U.S. News & World Report included accounting in its ranking of 25 Best Jobs in 2012. This strong connection to a promising career path can be attractive to prospective students. “Knowledge of projected industry growth is extremely helpful as students choose their major or area of study,” says Dr. Chad Kennedy, chair and professor of biomedical engineering technology in the College of Engineering and Information Sciences at DeVry University. “Unlike some career fields where opportunities are shrinking, many technology and engineering fields are expanding at double-digit rates. In fact, many employers can’t find enough qualified applicants to meet their needs.” Careers in technology are growing up to three times faster than other fields. For students interested in pursuing employment in this thriving industry, ComputerWorld recently outlined the “10 hot IT skills for 2013.” Cloud computing was among the most coveted skills. Though relatively unfamiliar to the average consumer, this data management knowledge drives the services that support many of today’s businesses. Similarly, cyber security professionals will play an integral role in keeping information safe as the majorRead more on page 5
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — PAGE 5
Anderson says start early, challenge yourself by Sarah Reed Managing editor
Bittersweet. It’s an emotion many high school graduates feel the day they receive their diplomas. Many will see some of their favorite teachers for the final time, realize they’ll soon say goodbye to longtime friends, and learn the difficulties of leaving home. It’s a feeling Concordia High School (CHS) senior Celeste Anderson said describes how she’ll feel when looking back on the high school experience. “All the memories with my friends are just, like, something I’m never going to forget — taking classes with them and the conversations we have,” she said. Anderson will soon be an undergraduate at University of Central Missouri, in Warrensburg. The school is relatively close to home, but will offer her paths to the future she sees for herself. She plans to major in psy-
CAREERS
chology and minor in criminal justice. “I want to be a forensic psychologist,” she explained. “I just think it’s really interesting how people’s minds work, and I just kind of want to get more into it and figure them out. I think it’s interesting.” Anderson is one who hasn’t waited to pursue her goals. CHS offers dual credit courses, which has allowed her to take college-level courses in the comfort of her own high school. By the end of the 2012-2013 school year, she’ll have already taken 33 college hours. “I’ve been trying to get a jump start on college so that I can graduate early, and I think it’s important to challenge yourself, too,” Anderson explained. “I’ll be going into college as a sophomore.” Anderson, the secretary of CHS’s National Honor Society, is a member of Family, Career and Community Leaders of
ity of companies’ assets move online. According to Today’s Engineer, the monthly Web publication of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the cyber security field is growing “in leaps and bounds.” Employment in health care fields is also on the rise. An aging population of baby boomers and expanded access to health care has placed growing pressure on the health care industry to add workers
America, acts as the school’s softball manager and participated in quiz bowl. She well understands the value of preparation and hard work, but doesn’t let it impede on the present. “I really like reading,” she said of her outside interests. “I read a lot.” In addition to taking the time to enjoy a good book, the senior also works parttime at a local fast food restaurant, where she spends a lot of her time in an effort to save for college. That preparation could give her a comfortable financial cushion once she begins college life. Her best advice to underclassmen for a successful high school career: don’t procrastinate. “Start early and get your dual credit classes,” Anderson said. “Just challenge yourself in high school, then you won’t regret it later.” Anderson is the daughter of Todd Anderson, of Concordia.
Photo furnished
Celeste Anderson, Concordia High School Class of 2013, will attend University of Central Missouri.
in fields ranging from health information systems and biomedical engineering technology to nursing and ambulatory care. “Given the sensitive nature of medical data, my role — ensuring data integrity, availability, and security for every current and former patient — is essential and growing in demand,” explains Adam Read more on page 6
Congratulations Concordia High School Graduates
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Concordia Veterinary Clinic Curt & Karol’s Home Center Robert Engle, D.D.S. Evans Equipment Game Day Trophy & Athletic Garst Seed — David Lueck Homestead 3 Realty Jon’s Body Shop Kammeyer Electric
Lucas finds success in pursuing personal interests PAGE 6 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
by Sarah Reed Managing editor
Working your hardest and doing what interests you is Mersadi Lucas’ advise to underclassmen. It’s an ideal she’s tried to live by during her high school career, and one that has gotten her on the fast track to college. “Don’t let somebody else change your mind because you want to fit in,” Lucas said. “Always be yourself.” The Concordia High School senior primarily took dual credit courses in both her junior and senior years. She’ll be going into college with roughly 27 hours behind her. “I think I have two more classes until I’m a (college) sophomore,” she said. The high school experience for Lucas has been one of dedication, as maintaining high grades was one of her top priorities. For many, that’s a balancing act too weighted on one side. Lucas seems to have done it with ease, although it may not have always been that
CAREERS
way. “The main thing is I wanted to keep my grades up … so I could get as many scholarships as possible, and I wanted to be at least in the top three of my class,” she said. And one scholarship she applied for has already been awarded — the Red & Black Scholarship from University of Central Missouri (UCM), in Warrensburg, which is based on a student’s cumulative high school GPA and ACT composite score. At UCM, Lucas plans to go into environmental science, which will help prepare her for a career as an environmental lawyer. “I always liked law, and I always liked to be up there and kind of tell people what to do,” she laughed. “I’d really like to help the environment, and I found out that that was a job opportunity.” Participating in FCCLA — or Family, Career and Community Leaders of America — has established a foundation for the student’s goals as the organiza-
Franzen, a systems administrator at Presence Health Care who holds a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from DeVry University. “As health care evolves, so do the technology and management skills that are central to career success in the field.” The workforce is rapidly evolving; some of the most desired professional roles of yesterday are
tion is focused on promoting personal development and leadership skills. In addition to FCCLA, Lucas is a member of National Honor Society, and she participated in quiz bowl during the 2012-2013 school year. During her freshman and sophomore years she played volleyball and was a member of FFA. “Right now I’m involved in yearbook,” she added, which prompts her to take pictures regularly. Balancing home life, work at a local restaurant and extra-curricular activities has been an experience Lucas won’t forget. “(High school) has been pretty good,” she said. “It wasn’t as scary as they portray it in the movies to be. I was still really terrified in junior high of all the seniors and stuff, but once you actually get into it and get to know a lot of the people, it’s really not as bad as when you think about it in the beginning.” Lucas is the daughter of Dan and Melissa Lucas, of Concordia.
shrinking today and will become obsolete tomorrow. The class of 2013 will enter emerging career fields, managing the technologies that drive advanced hospital settings, leading development of the next cloud-based application and protecting companies and consumers from cyber and financial fraud alike.
Congratulations Concordia High School Graduates
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Photo furnished
Mersadi Lucas, class of 2013, graduates this spring from Concordia High School. She plans to attend University of Central Missouri this fall.
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New experiences, new opportunities
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — PAGE 7
by Sarah Reed Managing editor
After sorting through what seemed to be an endless amount of career options this past year, Concordia High School senior Staci Schlueter decided on a path. That decision, she said, makes her feel much more confident. “First, I wanted to do a nursing kind of thing, and then I thought about journalism, and I thought about architecture,” she explained. “After talking to our counselor, I decided I wanted to be a school counselor.” Schlueter isn’t alone in questioning the right career path. Many high school seniors are undecided on a major when they go into college, and a high percentage change their majors at least once during their undergraduate career. Schlueter now has a solid place to start. “I’m going to Missouri State (University), in Springfield, and I’m going to double major in psychology and education,” she explained. The state has teaching requirements for those planning on going into the field. Schlueter hopes to teach at the elementary level while
she’s earning her master’s degree. “I’m really excited now that I do have it figured out,” she continued. Looking forward to the near future also gives her the opportunity to look at past accomplishments. Schlueter is president of Concordia High School’s student council and National Honor Society, and the vice president of the class of 2013. She’s also participated in her share of extra-curricular activities from football cheerleading and flags for the marching band, to playing volleyball and basketball. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my four years, just because with a small school we’ve been able to be involved with a lot,” she said. “I’ve just had the opportunity to interact with so many different types of people within the school.” Schlueter discussed the benefits of taking advantage of those opportunities, saying it’s helped her develop better communication and people skills. Outside of school, she’s also had unique opportunities. “I’ve done a lot of mission trips with the church,” she noted. Schlueter is a
youth group leader at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia. “We’ve done a bunch of different mission trips … over the summers, usually. We went to New Orleans and Philadelphia this past summer.” For Schlueter, the feeling of supportiveness she gets from the community is what she’ll remember as she transitions to life at Missouri State. “The teachers are helpful, everybody within the community (too),” she said. “You’ve always got people with you. It’s just like a confident feeling to know that when I do come back, there’s going to always be people here. That’s something that I like a lot. It makes me feel really comfortable.” Taking steps toward having new experiences is a step toward being true to oneself. It’s advice Schlueter would give to any student. “As cliché as it may be, definitely be yourself, because after high school it’s not going to matter who you were in high school. What’s going to matter is what you got out of it.” Schlueter is the daughter of Jeff and Tammy Schlueter, of Concordia.
Getting girls excited about science, math (ARA) — “My research experiences have shown me that, in spite of what statistics say about women in science, any girl with a passion for exploring unanswered questions can and should be persistent in pursuing that work,” says Sara Volz, 17. “Being female should not hold anyone back from science or engineering.” Volz won the grand prize and $100,000 in the 2013 Intel Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious high school science research competition, for her research of algae biofuels. The competition inspires students to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, from cancer treatments to natural disaster solutions. This year, nearly half of the 40 finalists were female.
According to the Department of Commerce, women currently hold fewer than 25 percent of jobs in science, technology, engi-
neering and math fields, but job opportunities in those areas are Read more on page 8
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Staci Schlueter will graduate from Concordia High School this spring. The 2013 graduate plans to become a school counselor.
Spalding preps for college transition PAGE 8 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
by Sarah Reed Managing editor
“It’s a lot of work and getting through all of it is tough,” Haley Spalding said of completing four years of high school and earning her diploma. The Concordia High School senior will graduate in the top of her class this spring. It’s an achievement in which the finish line, when a freshman, seems distant. But with graduation approaching, Spalding and other seniors will look back wondering where the time went. As she transitions into college and a new stage in her life, Spalding said the fondness of small-town comforts will stay with her. “You go down the halls, and you know everybody,” she said. “There’s rarely (a time) you see an unfamiliar face. I’m going to miss that a lot.” Transitioning from Concordia to the campus of Missouri State University, in Springfield, will be an adjustment — she said she hopes the adjustment won’t be too daunting.
“That’s going to be my biggest adjustment in college … (not) being around people I know and who I’ve grown up with since preschool,” she noted. Spalding grew up in a rural environment. At home, she helps with work around the house and property. “We have horses, so I love spending time with the horses … and I just love being outside,” she said. That rural atmosphere has shaped who Spalding is as an individual. Her experiences are also helping define her future as she continues discovering options for prospective careers. “I want to major in animal science,” she said. “I’ve been around animals my whole life. I know I want (to do) something that involves them, I just don’t know exactly what yet.” College courses, family, professors and friends can all aid Spalding as she looks to pinpoint a specific field that’s right for her. In addition, participation in high school organizations has given the senior a diverse background — each club and activity providing different resources on
which she can rely. Spalding is a member of National Honor Society, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and FFA. She’s also taken part in Academic C-Club, in which she earned her letter, as well as earned a spot on the superintendent’s honor roll. School has been her primary focus the past few years. Even with all of the extra-curricular opportunities available, in addition to working in Sedalia on the weekends, Spalding’s priority has been her grades. “I know I’ve got to get as many scholarships as possible, and the better I do in school, the more likely that’s going to be,” she said. Her biggest advice to underclassmen: don’t let your work load get ahead of you. “Just stay on top of stuff, because once you fall behind, from what I’ve heard, it’s a lot harder to get back on track,” she said. “As long as you keep up with all your classes, you’re ready for the adjustment.” Spalding is the daughter of Craig and Debbie Spalding, of Concordia.
only learn so much about science by reading a textbook. Immerse yourself in hands-on experiences, in the laboratory or out in the field. Actually doing science is what makes science so fun. • Embrace your unique perspective. Research has found that men and women approach problems from different angles, which gives girls interested in science the ability to provide new and creative suggestions. • Prepare to be surprised.
Science is fun. Girls can learn and explore cutting-edge territory and be involved in researching breakthroughs in science. As the 19 female finalists in the 2013 Intel Science Talent Search prove, girls can succeed in the fields of science and math and enjoy what they’re learning, as well. Those who explore and study these subjects have excellent future career potential and will embark on a journey of discovery in their learning.
SCIENCE, MATH
expected to grow almost twice as much as other occupations by 2018. Parents of girls currently in junior high or high school can encourage their daughters to stay interested in science and math by supporting their education in the subjects, both in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. To help inspire girls to pursue science, female Intel Science Talent Search finalists share their experiences on how they stayed involved: • Develop a science network. A support team of like-minded classmates and friends can strengthen a girl’s interest and success in science and engineering subjects. • Find a mentor. Teachers, neighbors, parents of friends and even business leaders in your community make great mentors in science and math. They help girls visualize the exciting path ahead of them. • Get your hands dirty. You can
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Haley Spalding plans to study animal science at Missouri State University after graduating from Concordia High School this spring.
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — PAGE 9
Saint Paul Lutheran High School Class of 2013 PAGE 10 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Marissa Brackman
Lilliana Burrow
Logan Burrow
Linhao Cai
Siyi Chen
Hope Colwell
Savanna Depee
Elnay Endeshaw
Adrian Fong
Jonathan Foster
Aaron Frerking
Nathan Gerdts
Zechariah Gifford
Hyunjung Hahm
Jimmy Han
Devon Heins
Samatha Heiselman
Aaron Hentges
Hunter Herold
Leah Hoffman
Yuda Hu
Boli Hua
Zhaoming Huang
Quentin Jones
Sukmin Jung
Marissa Ann Brackman is the daughter of Kevin and Rogena Brackman of Concordia. Her activities and honors include all-conference, all-district, all-regional, all-state and I-70 Conference volleyball MVP, all-conference and all-district basketball, KMZU basketball Dream Team, basketball MVP, All-Conference softball, National Honor Society (NHS) and Students Teaching Adolescent Youth (STAY). She plans to attend William Jewell College in Liberty and major in nursing.
Lillianna Ruth Burrow is the daughter of Gloria Burrow of Concordia and the late Steve Burrow. Her activities and honors include golf, football and basketball cheerleader, basketball, track, Spanish Club treasurer, band, STAY, yearbook, senior class treasurer, NHS, National Society of High School Scholars, principal’s honor roll, Most Improved Awards in football cheerleading and golf, Super Saint captain, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church member, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church youth
Brandon Hoppmann
group, drama, Spiritual Life Representative, prom chairwoman, dormitory student assistant (SA). She plans to attend Truman State University in Kirksville and major in accounting. Logan Christine Burrow is the daughter of Gloria Burrow of Concordia and the late Steve Burrow. Her activities and honors include volleyball, basketball, soccer, Singing Saints, band, STAY, math team, class secre(Continued next page)
Saint Paul Lutheran High School Class of 2013
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — PAGE 11
Kwangmin Kim
Kaitlyn King
Matthew Krater
Hae Jin Lee
Young Jae Lee
Nathaniel Lutz
Amelia Maddox
Theodore Mehl
Joshua Mourey
Nicole Mueller
Oriana Oi Yu Ng
Aaron Page
Gio Pan
Isabella Perry
Nolan Peters
Jacob Rodewald
Isaiah Roepe
Molly Rolan
Alicia Royuk
Haley Schemmer
Samuel Schmidt
Anna Snader tary, Super Saint captain, Spiritual Life representative, Spanish Club secretary, NHS, National Society of High School Scholars, executive director’s honor roll, I-70 Conference Choir, Singing Saints choir council, basketball Most Improved Award, Girls State, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church member, St. Paul’s Luthern Church youth group, SA, Saint Paul Lutheran High School (SPLHS) Alumni Award. She plans to attend the University of Missouri-School of Medicine in Kansas
Grant Umbach
Joachim von zur Muehlen
City. Linhao Cai is the son of Bezal Cai and Shaoyuan Lin of Shenzhen, China. His activities include choir and basketball. He plans to attend Concordia University in Seward, Neb. and major in business. Siyi (Cindy) Chen is the daughter of Zhijun Chen and Zhenyu Xie of Wuxi, China. Her activities and honors include soccer, basketball and football cheerleading, yearbook, math team, drama, NHS, I-70 Math All-con-
Xiang Wang ference, Moeller Dorm SA and choir. She plans to attend the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash. and major in business administration. Hope Corinne Colwell is the daughter of Clint and Jodi Colwell of Springfield. Her activities and honors include football cheerleading, boys’ basketball manager, track, NHS, STAY, Moeller Dorm SA, student government, swim and dive team, drama and soccer. She plans (Continued next page)
PAGE 12 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
to attend Concordia University-Seward and major in secondary education. Savanna Lee DePee is the daughter of Jason and Jennifer DePee of Concordia. Here activities include theatre, softball, STAY, Future Farmers of America (FFA), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and volleyball. She plans to attend State Fair Community College in Sedalia and major in business management. Elnay W. Endeshaw son of Wondi Endeshaw and Fikrte Yiner of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Africa. His activities include football. He plans to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu, Hawaii and major in business management. Wai-Hei (Adrian) Fong is the son of David and Mabo Fong of Hong Kong, China. His activities include soccer, math team, drama and track. He plans to attend Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. and major in accounting. Jonathan William Foster is the son of John and Susan Foster of Concordia. His activities and honors include all-conference football kicker and linebacker, all-conference and all-district quarterback, basketball, track and Super Saint captain. He plans to attend Central Methodist University in Fayette and major in criminal justice. Aaron Conrad-Payton Frerking is the son of Brian and Elizabeth Frerking of Concordia. His activities include football, drama, baseball, FFA and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church member. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg and major in crop and soil science. Nathan Lee Gerdts is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Gerdts of Concordia. His activities and honors include soccer, golf, basketball and baseball manager, drama, choir, academic team, NHS and honor roll. He plans to attend Missouri Valley College in Marshall and major in mass communications. Zechariah David Gifford is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Gifford of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska. His activities include football, baseball and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church member. He plans to attend Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and pursue a Master of Divinity degree. Hyunjung Hahm is the son of Yong Suk Hahm and Sunla Lee of Seoul, South Korea. His activities include soccer, track, golf, math team, Singing Saints and habitat volunteer in Korea. He plans to attend Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York and major in computer science. Ming Fung (Jimmy) Han is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hock Han of Chicago, Ill. He plans to attend Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill. and major in management. Devon Michelle Heins is the daughter of Mark and Cindy Heins of Concordia. Her activities and honors include NHS, blood drive coordinator, track, Singing Saints, I-70 All-conference, all-district and all-state volleyball, I-70 all-conference and all-district basketball, KMZU basketball Dream Team, All-district soccer and I-70 All-conference softball. She plans to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia and major in nursing. Samantha Jane Heisleman is the daughter of Suzanne Heisleman of Auburn, Calif. Her activities and honors include, soccer, drama, basketball manager, student government, STAY, boys’ soccer manager, volleyball, track and Moeller Dorm SA. She plans to enlist in the United States Navy then attend college and major in marine biology. Aaron Paul Hentges is the son of Allan and Rachael Hentges of Oak Grove. His activities and honors include NHS, student government, baseball, all-conference football first team defense, second team offense, all-district and all-state football defense and choir. He plans to
Saint Paul Lutheran High School 2012-2013 Theme — “Wise in Christ” “. . . in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3 Baccalaureate Friday, May 17, 2013 10 a.m.
Prelude Processional “All Hail The Power of Jesus Name” Invocation Psalmody Psalm 1 Collect Old Testament Lesson Choir Anthem “God So Loved The World” Epistle Lesson Gradual Hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” Gospel Lesson Apostles’ Creed Sermon Hymn “Praise Be to Christ” Sermon Rev. Bart Mueller Offering Recognition of Honored Guests Rev. Paul M. Mehl Prayer of the Church Benediction Recessional Hymn
Processional Invocation
Commencement Exercises 1:30 p.m.
“Thy Strong Word” Rev. Bart Mueller, Chairman-Board of Trustees Introduction of the Speaker Speaker Mr. Leonard Fiedler, Former principal of St. Paul's College High and member of the Class of 1963 Choir Anthem “I Am The Bread of Life” Valedictorian Address Alicia Royuk Presentation of the Class of 2013 Awarding of Diplomas Choir Anthem “Old Irish Blessing” Presentation of Class Gift Devon Heins, Class President Presentation of Special Awards and Recognitions Closing Prayer Rev. Bart Mueller Chairman-Board of Trustees Remarks/Announcements Singing of the Alma Mater Official Closing of the One Hundred Thirtieth Academic Year Closing Hymn “For All the Saints” Recessional A reception will follow Commencement in the gymnasium
Class Verse “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 Class Motto Not finished, just begun! Class Flower Red Rose
Class Colors Purple and Silver
attend Concordia University-Seward and major in secondary education and chemistry. Hunter Joseph Herold is the son of Joseph Herold of Burke, Va. and Kris Herold of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His activities and honors include soccer Most Improved Award, drama, girls’ soccer manager and Singing Saints. He plans to attend Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Leah Christine Hoffmann is the daughter of Thomas and Dianne Hoffmann of North Aurora, Ill. Her activities include Moeller Dorm SA, soccer manager, basketball, soccer, drama, student government and math team. She plans to attend Concordia University-Seward and major in mathematics. Brandon Michael Hoppmann is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hoppmann of Concordia. His activities and honors include band, drama, assistant principal honor roll, courtwarming king and NHS. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in agricultural business. Yuda Hu is the son of Lifeng Hu and Ningfang Zhou of Fuzhou, Fujian China. His activities include Model United Nations, cross country, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and math team. He plans to attend Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Penn. and major in business. Boli Hua is the son of GuoQiang Hua and ZhengYue Wi of Wuxi, China. His activities and honors include band, I-70 Conference math team and track. He plans to attend the University of Delaware in Newark, N.J. and major in engineering. Zhaoming Huang is the son of Jian Huang and Hong Chen of Shenzhen GuangDong, China. His activities include tennis, badminton and soccer. He plans to attend the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore. and major in accounting. Quentin Andrew Jones is the son of Andrew and Jennifer Jones of Concordia. His activities and honors include football, all-conference and all-district baseball honorable mentions, all-conference band, all-conference choir and drama. He plans to attend Longview Community College in Lee’s Summit and major in construction management. Sukmin Jung is the son of Hyunjin Jung and MiKyoung Cho of Seoul, South Korea. His activities and honors include track, yearbook, Singing Saints, honor roll, math team and freshman class president. He plans to attend Irvine Valley College in Irvine, Calif. and major in business and economics. Kwangmin (James) Kim is the son of Myung il Kim and Sung hee Hong of Busan, South Korea. His activities and honors include student body vice president, math team, yearbook, varsity soccer, track and Singing Saints. He plans to attend Korea University in Seoul, South Korea and major in electronic engineering or business. Kaitlyn Colleen King is the daughter of Guy King of Corder. Her activities include basketball, track, STAY and a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Corder. She plans to attend Independence Community College in Independence and major in cosmetology. Matthew James Krater is the son of Jim and Sharon Krater of Cortez, Colo. and Holly Krater-Lopez of Farmington, N.M. His activities and honors include football offense line honorable mention, golf, Singing Saints and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cortez, Colo. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in computer engineering. Hae Jin Lee is the daughter of Gi Ryoung Lee and Gyu Bok Gi of Bucheon, Gyongido, South Korea. Her activities and honors include principal’s honor roll, soccer, courtwarming princess, choir, NHS, track, math team, yearbook and drama. She plans to attend Seoul National College in Seoul, South Korea. (Continued next page)
Saint Paul Lutheran High School Seniors
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — PAGE 13
Young Jae Lee is the son of HoLak Lee and Young Sun Lim of Seoul, South Korea. His activities and honors include NHS, Singing Saints, soccer, golf, track, drama, girls’ soccer manager, math team, international co-committee and yearbook. He plans to attend the University of Illinois in Urbana, Ill. Nathaniel Gene Lutz is the son of David and Marjorie Lutz of Cole Camp. His activities and honors include all-district, all-region, all-state and AllAmerican soccer, choir president, I-70 All-Conference choir, drama, track and girls’ soccer manager. He plans to attend State Fair Community College in Sedalia and major in computer aided drafting. Amelia Lynn Maddox is the daughter of Brian and Donna Maddox of Concordia. Her activities and honors include football and basketball cheerleading co-captain, track, drama, choir, student government, NHS, STAY and spiritual life representative, Concordia Fall Festival queen contest first runner-up and Dancer of the Year Award. She plans to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia and major in elementary education. Theodore John Mehl is the son of the Rev. Dr. John and Susan Mehl of Hong Kong, China. His activities and honors include football, golf, NHS, Singing Saints, band and Super Saint media. He plans to attend Concordia University-Seward and major in computer science. Joshua Paul Mourey is the son of Ken and Deb Mourey of Concordia. His activities and honors include soccer, girls’ soccer manager, academic team, choir, NHS and drama. He plans to attend the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. and major in computer engineering. Nicole Lydia Mueller is the daughter of the Rev. Bart and Jana Mueller of Lakefield, Minn. Her activities and honors include golf state qualifier, golf Most Improved Award, basketball Most Improved Award, NHS, Singing Saints, volleyball, soccer, band and a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lakefield, Minn. She plans to attend William Jewell College in Liberty and major in psychology and then obtain a master’s degree in occupational therapy. Oriana Oi Yu Ng is the daughter of Echo Ming Wing Ng and Melissa Man Ngor Yan of Hong Kong, China. Her activities include track, library perfect and English speech competition. She plans to attend San Francisco State University in California and major in psychology. Aaron Lane Page is the son of Russell and Beth Kruse of Concordia. His activities include football, track, drama, NHS and choir. He plans to attend the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute,
Ind. and major in mechanical and chemical engineering. Zhihao (Gio) Pan is the son of Xiao tao Pan and QiaoZhen Ni of Shanghai, China. His activities include football and track. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in chemistry. Isabella Diane Perry is the daughter of Tom Hobart of Denver, Colo. and Sandra Perry of Oakley, Kans. Her activities include Singing Saints, drama, Teens for Life, speech team and spiritual life committee. She plans to attend Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla. and major in nursing. Nolan Mark Peters is the son of Byron and Cheryl Peters of Waverly. His activities and honors include first team all-district and first team all-region soccer, third team Lutheran High School All-American soccer, basketball, track, choir, band, drama and Boys State. He plans to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. and major in mechanical engineering.
Jacob Robert Rodewald is the son of the Michael and Cynthia Rodewald of Pretoria, South Africa. His activities and honors include first team all-district, second team all-state and first team Lutheran All-American soccer, drama, student government, girls’ soccer manager and a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He plans to attend Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. Isaiah Gilbert Roepe is the son of Brad and Judy Roepe of Emma. His activities and honors include first team all-conference offense, second team all-conference defense and all-district offense football, KMZU football Dream Team, basketball all-state academic team, baseball all-district and all-conference honorable mention, NHS president, student government, STAY, drama, math team, band, Singing Saints and all-
conference choir. He plans to attend Baylor University in Waco, Texas and major in chemistry and pre-medicine. Amanda (Molly) Jane Rolan is the daughter of Michael and Amy Rolan of Corder. Her activities and honors include volleyball, soccer team captain, NHS, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America fundraising coordinator, Spanish Club president, STAY, drama, Girls State and basketball and basketball manager. She plans to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia and major in communications and business. Alicia Christine Royak is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Brent Royak of Seward, Neb. Her activities and honors include student government secretary, football cheerleader, cross country, track, drama, Singing Saints, academic team and NHS. She plans to attend Concordia University-Seward and major in secondary education. Haley Amelia Schemmer is the daughter of Kevin and Beth Schemmer of Higginsville. Her activities and honors include football and basketball cheerleading, yearbook, NHS, student government, drama, STAY and Spanish Club. She plans to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia and major in pharmacy. Samuel Richmond Schmidt is the son of Dr. Luther and Andrea Schmidt of Concordia. His activities and honors include all-district, all-region and all-state soccer, all-conference honorable mention and first team all-conference basketball, first team all-conference and all-district baseball, Singing Saints, student government and NHS. He plans to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. and major in aeronautical engineering. Anna Audrey Snader is the daughter of James and Beverly Snader of Higginsville. Here activities include volleyball, Singing Saints, Teens for Life, soccer, spiritual life committee and drama. She plans to attend the University of Central Missouri. Grant William Umbach is the son of Mary Umbach of Concordia. His activities include soccer, golf, and girls’ soccer manager. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in graphic arts technology-management. Joachim Alexander von zur Muehlen is the son of Alex and Sonya von zur Muehlen of St. Louis. His activities include football. He plans to attend the University of Missouri in St. Louis and major in nursing. Xiang Wang is the son of Guofan Wang and Jiulian Yang of Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. His activities include basketball and track. He plans to attend college and major in marketing.
Congratulations Saint Paul Lutheran High School Graduates Alma Building Supply Alma Meats Beerman Heating & Cooling Biffle’s Smoke House BBQ Tony Brackman – Pioneer Seeds Britt’s Central Drug Store Buck’s Country Mart Central Missouri AgriService Concordia Implement
Concordia Veterinary Clinic Curt & Karol’s Home Center Robert Engle, D.D.S. Evans Equipment Game Day Trophy & Athletic Garst Seed — David Lueck Homestead 3 Realty Jon’s Body Shop Kammeyer Electric
Royuk works hard at school and making people laugh PAGE 14 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
by Rebecca Schnackenberg Concordian staff For 2013 valedictorian Alicia Royuk, her four years at Saint Paul Lutheran High School (SPLHS) in Concordia have been filled with hard work, strong friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. With an ever-ready smile, Royuk, the daughter of Dr. Brent and Sandra Royuk of Seward, Neb., talked about her high school experiences. Royuk said when deciding on where to attend high school she had three options — both a public and private high school near her home and SPLHS. Both her parents, as well as their siblings, attended Saint Paul. Royuk visited the campus and was drawn to the atmosphere, the international student body and the Christian environment. “It was a good fit for me,” she said. As one can imagine, it was not easy to take this large step from home during her high school years. “Here there are a lot of challenges,” she said. “It is hard just coming here and leaving home — that was tough.” Though she may be far from home, this has not held her back from fully participating her high school life. While at SPLHS, Royuk has kept a busy schedule including football cheerleading, cross country, track, choir, National Honor Society, 20122013 student body secretary, student assistant in Moeller dormitory, academic team and drama. Royuk said she intentionally tried to keep a busy schedule and liked the challenge of time management. She said it has been “fun figuring out what talents God has given me and how I can use them.” As part of that busy sched-
ule, Royuk was involved in the eight drama productions which took place while she was a student at Saint Paul. She acted in seven of them and was the student director for one. She said drama was very fun and credits the drama instructor, Kim Brandt, with encouraging students to stretch themselves outside of their comfort zones and make each show as good as possible. Royuk would like to help with drama in her future plans if she becomes a teacher at the high school level. “It’s really fun. I love being on stage and making people laugh — that’s my favorite. I always got the weird roles like the nurse on valium or the impulsive liar in the insane asylum. It was always really fun to do something way out there and try to make people laugh as much as possible — I like that.” Royuk also found that drama was a good way to get to know her fellow students because it brought together so many different people. After graduation, Royuk will look to the next step in her life. She will attend Concordia University in Seward, majoring in secondary education. She said typically students becoming teachers focus on two areas. One of hers will be English, but she has not yet determined what her second focus will be. She would like to teach students anywhere from middle school age to college level and will narrow her focus as she completes her student teaching. When asked about a mostinspiring teacher, she said it was hard to name anyone specifically, as many people have reached out and helped her through the years. She said the faculty at
Saint Paul takes an interest in the students, not just to make sure students earn good marks, but also caring on a spiritual level. John Bobzin, religion and sociology teacher, pushed her to do her very best and had her always thinking on a higher level when writing papers for his classes, pushing her to go more in depth. She also admires William Gasau, choir director, for the passion he has for music. Royuk was part of the Singing Saints touring choir all four years and was inspired by Gasau because of his long career with the choir and the fact that he still loves it and wants to continue. Royuk said this passion for one’s vocation is exactly what she is striving for in her future career. The people are what Royuk will miss most about SPLHS — the student and teachers. “It’s just a really good place to grow,” she said. “I just really love it here, and its been a great experience, and I’m going to miss it. But I really think the school has helped me get ready for college and for the rest of my life.” Royuk said she looks forward to learning more about herself in the future and finding out exactly what God wants her to do. She said she is getting a better idea, but is not sure yet. She wants to find a way to serve God and help other people. Royuk has this advice for her underclassmen: “Don’t be afraid to try new things. You might think that you wouldn’t be good at something, but if you try it, sometimes it works out really well. Always do your best in everything, because it is worth it. And don’t be afraid to reach out to other people — just form as many friendships as you can.”
Photo furnished
Alicia Royuk, 2013 Saint Paul Lutheran High School valedictorian, will attend Concordia University in Seward, Neb., this fall. She plans to become a teacher to help others and serve God.
Congratulations Saint Paul Lutheran High School Graduates
Kesemann Tool & Die Kleinschmidt’s Western Wear Lafayette Travel & Cruise Elmer Leimkuehler – Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Lutheran Good Shepherd Home M & S Equipment McDonald’s of Concordia Meyer Motors
Mid-Missouri Agri Services NAPA – Concordia Auto Parts Old Time General Store Rudi’s Carpet & Furniture State Farm Insurance — Wanda Skelton Strobel Seed & Chemical TJ’s Auto Service Trails Regional Library
Schmidt’s future plans will take him to new heights
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — PAGE 15
by Rebecca Schnackenberg Concordian staff As graduation approaches, a major aspect on the minds of high school seniors revolves around what their future plans will involve. Amongst the celebrations and excitement of finishing high school, decisions about college, work and career choices percolate in their thoughts. For one Saint Paul Lutheran High School (SPLHS) graduate those future plans will take him to new heights — literally. The 2013 salutatorian, Samuel Schmidt, will attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., this fall. His chosen major is aeronautical engineering and he hopes to become a pilot. Schmidt, the son of Dr. Luther and Andrea Schmidt of Concordia, says thoughts of becoming a pilot started during his sophomore year of high school. In his junior year, he decided to apply to the U.S. Air Force Academy after determining it was the best route for him to reach his goal of flying planes. “Living near Whiteman (Air Force Base) has helped spark my interest,” Schmidt said. “It would be an exciting career choice and I think it would be a challenge too.” Schmidt also received a nomination to the air force academy from U.S. Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler. The nomination process began with a questionnaire and essay. Each essay was reviewed by a board of military personnel. Candidates were then interviewed by the board. Schmidt said he was nervous, but because he had already had two interviews with an admissions officer from the air force academy he knew what to expect, and this helped him through the process. After graduating from the academy, Schmidt will be a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Air Force, and will begin a fiveyear service during which he will be stationed at one of the U.S. air force bases. While at Saint Paul Schmidt participated in numerous activities including soccer, basket-
ball, baseball, student government and National Honor Society. He is also a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia and the youth group. With the youth group he has attended three servant events — traveling to Colorado, New Orleans and Philadelphia. Some of Schmidt’s favorite high school memories include winning the 2012 district championship in soccer and the boys’ basketball team wining the I-70 Conference tournament in 2013. “I was proud of how hard our team worked to do that, because we weren’t favored to win that,” Schmidt said. When asked about a favorite or most-inspiring teacher, Schmidt talked about his parents, both teachers at SPLHS. His father teaches science and math and his mother teaches English and speech. His parents kept him motivated and on the right path though his high school years. He said his parents treated him no different than any other student. However, there has been one exception to having both parents at the same school. “If I occasionally do misbehave in other classes, they know about it almost at the same time I know about it,” Schmidt said jokingly. “That part is not so fun, but it’s not so bad.” Schmidt says he will miss the closeness he found with other students at Saint Paul. Aside from the connections made through day-to-day interactions, he spent one semester in the dormitory and feels the
bond created with fellow students is special. Schmidt likes the international aspect of SPLHS. Because the school enrolls boarding students as well as day students, many students from foreign countries attend the school and live on campus. He said students are able to get a taste of what the world is like because there are a number of different cultures in one place, allowing one to meet many new people, find out what others’ lives are like and make friends from all over the world. He feels this unique experience, coupled with normal high school activities such as sports and school traditions, is a good combination. Looking to his future, Schmidt looks forward to the challenges at the academy. He believes it will keep him focused, and there are lots of opportunities to experience many different things while there. “At the academy you are given the opportunity, even in your underclassman years, to skydive and to fly planes, so I’m really looking forward to that.” Schmidt has this advice to his underclassmen: “Try to stay focused. Don’t take what you get here for granted, because what they give you here is an opportunity to succeed and an opportunity to prepare yourself for what is next; and it’s something they (students) should be grateful for and use their abilities to reach their maximum potential through what is given here.”
Photo furnished
2013 Saint Paul Lutheran High School salutatorian Samuel Schmidt plans to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., this fall.
PAGE 16 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Your first resume - dos and don’ts
(ARA) — If you’re heading out into the workforce for the first time, there’s plenty of prep work to do. An employer’s first impression of you could very well be your resume. Christine Pacheco, director of career services at The Art Institute of Colorado, and Kristin Frank, director of career services at The Art Institute of Phoenix, share the top dos you should include to get noticed and get your foot in the door — and the don’ts that could get your resume tossed in the trash.
First, the dos: • Do look at the job description and then tailor your resume to the specific needs of the job, advises Frank. Your skills need to match what the employer is looking for. Pacheco stresses the importance of key words that should be included in your resume. “Your resume could be scanned electronically and if key industry words and words from the job description are not in it, it will get tossed before it ever gets to a human being,” she says. That means you should be tweaking your resume for each job. • Do ensure you’ve completed at least one internship to include on your resume, even if your program of study did not require it. Explain how you contributed to the organization and how you made yourself stand out. Make sure to stress the professional skills you honed during that time. If you’ve done freelance and contract work in your field, create a ‘freelance/contract work” section and list all your clients. • Do list your membership and participation in professional organizations, and if you haven’t joined a professional organization for your field, do so immediately. “It’s important to show a genuine interest in your industry,” explains Frank. Make sure to also list any professional certifications you’ve earned while still in school. • Do utilize your college’s career services department. Advisors can assist you in formatting and tailoring your resume and may be able to provide you with job leads. They can also help you prepare for the actual interview. • Do list your work-related and non-work-related accomplishments. Make sure the non-work accomplishments still showcase your benefit to a potential employer. For instance, if you planned your sorority or fraternity annual philanthropy, focus on the leadership skills you utilized and the organization the event benefitted. If you’ve completed a marathon, list that as well. It showcases your ability to stick with a project and follow through. It could also wind up
being a pretty interesting topic of conversation during the interview. Just be prepared to discuss your skills and accomplishments, when asked.
Which brings us to the don’ts: • Don’t embellish. Because you will be asked about your marathon or how you increased your company’s return on investment (ROI) during your threemonth internship, make sure everything you put on paper is true. If not, it could come back to bite you. • Don’t send before you proofread. “We still see typos and missing names, email addresses or phone numbers,” says Pacheco. Few things annoy hiring managers more than that kind of easily avoided carelessness. It tells an employer you do not have attention to detail and you complete sloppy work. In an era with spell-check, most of this can be easily avoided. • Don’t use that “cute” email address you created in college. A hiring manager will be hard-pressed to take “partygirl@email.com” or “lovetheladies @email.com” seriously, warns Frank. • Don’t include irrelevant info on your resume. A philanthropic event you organized for your fraternity is a plus, the spring break trip you spearheaded may not impress, nor will your award for most parties attended in a semester. Make sure the information you include showcases your responsible side. Your future employer does not want to imagine you calling in sick because you stayed out too late the night before. • Don’t go on and on. “I’ve seen executive-level resumes that stuck to a page or two,” says Pacheco. Make sure your resume is clear and to the point.
Celebrate the grads in your life with financial gifts
(ARA) — Do you have a child in your life who will be graduating this spring? Whether it’s from kindergarten or college, graduation marks the completion of one chapter in a young person’s life and the start of a new adventure. Honor your grad’s achievement by helping him or her save for the future with a digital U.S. Savings Bond. “Graduation season is a time of celebration and great pride for families. In preparation for this milestone achievement, we encourage parents to consider opening a TreasuryDirect account for their child within their own primary TreasuryDirect account, so the gift of savings bonds can be given by relatives or friends who want to contribute to a young grad’s future,” says Jerry Kelly, national director of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Ready.Save.Grow. campaign. Savings bonds are a great gift choice for a child of any age. They’re a low-risk way to save, and offer steady accumulation of Read more on page 17
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — PAGE 17
FINANCIAL GIFTS
interest. Additionally, interest earned from savings bonds is exempt from state and local income taxes, and may also be exempt from federal income taxes when used to pay for qualified higher education expenses. If there’s a special child in your life, read on for helpful information about gifting savings bonds.
Opening a TreasuryDirect account Parents - need help setting up a TreasuryDirect account for your child? If your child is under the age of 18, you’ll first need to establish your own account, then open your child’s account within your account. TreasuryDirect is the Treasury Department’s secure, online system where you can safely buy, manage and redeem digital savings bonds and other Treasury securities. Ready.Save.Grow. provides information and tools to help people sign up for a
Budgeting 101:
TreasuryDirect account, including a tip sheet and a guided tour, at www.treasurydirect.gov/ready savegrow. After your TreasuryDirect accounts have been opened, your child is ready to receive digital savings bond gifts for birthdays, graduations and other special events.
Giving a digital savings bond gift Consider contributing to a child’s college fund or other financial goal with a digital sav-
ings bond gift bought through TreasuryDirect. The first step in giving a sav-
ings bond as a gift is having the gift recipient’s name, Social Security number and TreasuryDirect account number. Ready.Save.Grow. offers resources to help you give a savings bonds gift in TreasuryDirect, including a graphic that walks you through the most important steps. You can also print out a step-by-step tip sheet and watch an overview video. Visit www.treasurydirect.gov/ readysavegrow to access these tools.
Commemorating the occasion with a gift certificate TreasuryDirect.gov offers a variety of themed gift certificates for graduation, birthdays, holidays and other events. Simply print your favorite and present it to the gift recipient in a card or envelope to signify your savings bond gift. Ready.Save.Grow. helps people take control of their future by providing information and resources about the safe,
How new graduates can conquer challenges
(ARA) — Spring is the perfect time for young Americans to take a look at their budgets and become financially fit. Not only is April Financial Literacy Month, complete with nonprofit organizations around the country offering free seminars and online resources, but millions of high school and college students are also preparing for graduation and the next phase of their lives. But are new grads ready for the financial challenges that lay ahead? The average student loan debt for borrowers in the college class of 2011 was about $26,500, according to a report by the Institute for College Access and Success’s Project on Student Debt. While the National Association of Colleges and Employers projects that 2013 college graduate hiring will increase about 13 percent, budgeting for the start of a new career can be overwhelming. Budgeting money from that part-time job at the mall for movie tickets and other entertainment expenses is quickly replaced by rent, utilities, food and transportation costs as well as student loan payments. Fortunately, many tools and tips are available for new graduates to get started with budgeting and saving. Microsoft Office offers a free personal budget worksheet to help track income and expenses each month. Several organizations offer free tips for saving money and budgeting on a lower income, which is typical for entry-level jobs. “Effective budgeting and saving is essential for young adults to reach their personal and professional
goals,” says Matt Chevalier, senior vice president for TD Bank. “Being able to afford everyday living expenses, transportation to work, and essential insurance coverage all begins with understanding your income, your expenses and how and where to save money.”
The not-so-obvious expenses Recent graduates must also prepare for those under-the-radar expenses, such as auto insurance premiums, health insurance contributions and banking costs. While in school, most students can stay on their parents’ or guardians’ auto and health insurance plans, but not long after graduation, they will be required to purchase their own plans, either independently or through their employer. Student bank accounts can also change soon after graduation, but many banks feature a checking account selector tool that compares checking account options to best fit customers’ needs and help them save money on fees. To help facilitate saving, new grads should set up direct deposit with their employer and connect a savings or money market account to their checking account, automatically transferring a manageable amount from each paycheck to build savings. “Joining the professional workforce is an exciting and challenging time for young adults, and all the new expenses can seem overwhelming at first,” says Chevalier. “Take it one step at a time ...”
affordable savings options offered by the Treasury Department. Visit the Ready. Save.Grow. website, www.treasurydirect.gov/readysavegrow, to learn more or follow the campaign on Facebook or Twitter @ReadySaveGrow. The preceding information
was provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt. TreasuryDirect is a registered mark of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Ready.Save.Grow. is a service mark of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Congratulations
Grads! from the girls at Salon Elite, 9 E. 7th Street Concordia • 660-463-1221
Congratulations to all area 2013 graduates! May all your dreams come true!!
Rector Chevrolet, LLC 3401 Hwy. 13 South • Higginsville, Mo. Phone KC 229-5757 • 660-584-2175
www.rectorchev.com
Congratulations and best wishes to all the area 2013 graduations.
Physical Therapy of Concordia 607 S. Main St. • Suite A, P.O. Box 64 Concordia, MO 64020 660-463-2588 • fax: 660-463-2589 Kathy Cooper PT, Shelly Yount PTA, Kris Reinwald, Jaala Schlesselman, PTA, Jennifer McCaslin, PT, and April Ohrenberg
Santa Fe High School Class of 2013
PAGE 18 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Brandy Beasley
Jessica Catlett
Mathew Bodenhamer
Emilee Bock
Christian Boehmer
Grant Boland
Shea Conner
Andrew Curry
Patrick Dillon
Callie Gieselman
Angel Gipe
Stephanie Green
Brandy Lee Beasley is the daughter of Danny Beasley of Concordia, and Tabitha McMellen of Alma. Her activities and honors include Region III Breaking Traditions, Senior Award, Presidential Academic, Athletic Individual, Best of the Best, honor roll, SkillsUSA statesman pin, basketball letter and volleyball. She plans to attend Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield and major in business and marketing. Emilee Ann Margaret Bock is the daughter of David Bock of Waverly and Pamela Bock of Blackburn. Her activities and honors include band solo, choir, Future Farmers of America (FFA), honor roll, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Art Club, Science Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Speech and Drama Club, Scrapbook Club and SkillsUSA Leadership Award. She plans to attend Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph and major in business. Matthew Thomas Bodenhamer is the son of Bill Bodenhamer of Blackburn, and Amie Bodenhamer of Alma. His activities and honors include all-conference,
all-district and all-state football, KMZU football Dream Team, track, Chiefs Club, Science Club and Boys State city councilman. He plans to attend the University of Missouri in Columbia and major in mechanical engineering. Christian Blake Boehmer is the son of Chris and Leslie Boehmer of Alma. His activities and honors include baseball, basketball, Chiefs Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), FFA, National Honor Society (NHS), SADD and Science Club. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg and major in agricultural business. Grant William Boland is the son of Richard and Judy Boland of Waverly. His activities and honors include baseball, basketball, Speech and Drama Club and SADD. He plans to attend Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville and major in agricultural business. Matthew Scott Brandt is the son of Tony and Rebecca Brandt of Alma. His activities and honors include SADD, yearbook, Speech and Drama Club, Quiz Bowl, NHS, basketball manager, student council, FFA, Boys State, Alma Fire Department and Alma fireworks
Matthew Brandt
Abigail Edwards
blasting crew. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri. Jessica Claire Catlett is the daughter of Ron and Michelle Catlett of Blackburn. Her activities and honors include SADD, FCCLA secretary, Chiefs Club, Speech and Drama Club, student council reporter, NHS president and senior class treasurer. She plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in English and psychology. Shea Mackenzie Connor is the daughter of Seth and Diana Conner of Malta Bend. Her activities and honors include Missouri High School Rodeo Association state qualifier, National High School Rodeo Association national qualifier, National Cutting Horse Association girls cutting champion, Ozark Mountain Cutting Horse Association and Area VI senior champion, Missouri Rodeo Cowboys Association finals qualifier, NHS, student council secretary, FFA, SADD, Speech and Drama Club and FCA. She plans to attend Missouri Valley College in Marshall and major in agricultural business with a chemistry minor. Andrew C.L. Curry is the son of Keith and Renae (Continued next page)
Santa Fe High School Class of 2013
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — PAGE 19
Wynter Harms
Manuel Hernandez
Lucas Miller
Tyler Hunter
Ethan Lane
Caleb Kirchhoff
Ashlea Piland
Megan Steffens
Paul Strathman
Logan Wiggins
Chelsea Winter
Cole Wodrich
Curry of Waverly. His activities and honors include allconference, all-district and all-state baseball, I-70 Conference baseball MVP, all-conference and all-district basketball, FFA, SADD, Chiefs Club, Science Club, Speech and Drama Club, NHS and honor roll. He plans to attend Jefferson College in Hillsboro and major in business management. Patrick R. Dillon is the son of Jared and Blythe Dillon of Waverly. His activities and honors include FFA, cross country state qualifier, track, soccer, Math Club, honor roll, student of the quarter, Methodist Youth Group, Kimball Recycling Center volunteer, Lex LaRay Vocational School student of the month, SkillsUSA state competitor and Victory Christian Church Food Pantry volunteer. He plans to attend Lex La-Ray Technical Center in Lexington and major in computer maintenance and networking. Abigail Elizabeth Edwards is the daughter of Chris and Anita Edwards of Malta Bend. Her activities and honors include FFA vice president, NHS, Color Guard, band and honor roll. She plans to attend State Fair Community College in Sedalia and major in occupational therapy.
Callie Nicole Gieselman is the daughter of David and Wendy Gieselman of Corder. Her activities and honors include, volleyball, softball, SADD, FCCLA, Math Club, Science Club, Art Club, Academic Bowl Team, choir, Chiefs Club, homecoming queen and senior class president. She plans to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla and major in mechanical engineering. Angel Marie Gipe is the daughter of Lee and Carol Gipe of Waverly. Her activities and honors include Scrapbook Club, Art Club, softball, art award, honor roll, and academic award. She plans to attend Ozark Technical Community College and major in graphic design. Stephanie Renee Green is the daughter of Steve Green of Slater, and Julie Green of Waverly. Her activities include softball, Speech and Drama Club and choir. She plans to join Job Corps and become a licensed practical nurse. Wynter Dawn Harms is the granddaughter of Roy and Doris Harms of Blackburn. Her activities and honors include NHS secretary, Best of the Best Award, allconference Quiz Bowl 5th place, senior class secretary,
Brittany Limback
Chad Tieman
Presidential Academic Award, Scrapbook Club, FCCLA, I-70 Conference choir senior award, district solo contest, district honor choir, all-district women’s choir, Speech and Drama Club stage manager, academic letter and choir letter. She plans to attend Central Methodist University in Fayette and major in biochemistry. Manuel Hernandez is the son of Gregorio and Trinidad Hernandez of Waverly. His activities and honors include football, track, Spanish Club, SADD, Chiefs Club, SkillsUSA district officer, Lex La-Ray Technical Center, KMZU football Dream Team, all-conference and all-district kicker and defensive line, all-state offensive lineman and honor roll. He plans to attend WyoTech in Laramie, Wyoming and major in automotive technology. Tyler Dwayne Hunter is the son of Doug and Gayla Stuerke of Blackburn. He plans to find employment this summer. Caleb Andrew Kirchhoff is the son of Brett Kirchhoff of Alma and Dawn Kirchhoff of Blackburn. His activities and honors include baseball, football, track, choir, Spanish Club, FCCLA, SADD, Chiefs Club, FFA, Science Club, honor roll, Speech and Drama (Continued next page)
Santa Fe High School Seniors
PAGE 20 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Club. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri. Ethan Joseph Lane is the son of Shane and Catherine Lane of Blackburn. His activities include FFA trapshoot team and Lex LaRay Technical Center. He plans to attend Missouri Welding Institute in Nevada and become a master pipe fitter and welder. Brittany Michelle Limback is the daughter of Fred and Denise Limback of Alma. Her activities and honors include, NHS, SADD, FBLA, FFA president, honor choir and Speech and Drama Club. She plans to attend Missouri Valley College and major in nursing. Lucas Allen Miller is the son of Rebecca Edde of Malta Bend and Anthony Miller of St. Joseph. His activities and honors include football team captain, all-state track, SADD, Chiefs Club, Math Club and A+ student program. He plans to attend Central Methodist University in Fayette and major in criminal justice. Ashlea Amanda Piland is the daughter of Allen and Christina Piland of Waverly. Her activities and honors include band, I-70 Conference band first chair and clarinet section leader. She plans to attend State Fair Community College. Megan Elizabeth Steffens is the daughter of Brian Steffens of Blackburn and Deborah Joy of Waverly. Her activities and honors include band, Science Club, SADD, FCCLA, student council president, NHS, Chiefs Club and A+ student program. She plans to attend Missouri Valley College and major in nursing. Paul Hunter William Strathman is the son of Kevin and Suzanne Strathman of Alma. His activities and honors include football, FFA greenhand and chapter degrees, 4-H, prom king and Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout. He plans to attend Lex La-Ray Technical Center and major in automotive technology. He plans to work mowing yards. Chad Alan Tieman is the son of Kent and Amy Tieman of Alma. His activities and honors include baseball, basketball, football, FFA, SADD, Chiefs Club, Science Club, 4-H, FCA, NHS, Power Club, all-state baseball, academic all-state football, all-conference football and national 4-H shooting sports. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in wildlife biology. Logan S. Wiggins is the son of Randy and Heidi Wiggins of Waverly. His activities and honors include basketball, track, baseball, band, choir, Chiefs Club, FCA, Speech and Drama Club, SADD and all-conference choir best of the best. He plans to attend HannibalLa Grange University in Hannibal and major in social studies education. Chelsea Nichole Winter is the daughter of Darren and Marilyn Winter. Her activities and honors include all-state 2nd team volleyball, basketball, track, softball, SADD, FCCLA, Chiefs Club, Speech and Drama Club, FBLA and student council class representative. She plans to attend college and major in elementary/special education. Cole Jordan Wodrich is the son of Darren
Santa Fe High School Baccalaureate Santa Fe High School Gymnasium Presented by Waverly Community Ministries
Pastor Andy Mockridge, Pastor Don Scurlock, Pastor Bill Koch, Paster Jerry Curry, Pastor Roger Nichols
Thursday, May 9, 2013 7:00 p.m.
Message to Graduates Special Music
Pastor Jerry Curry Callie Gieselman and Chelsea Winter
Commencement Exercises Santa Fe High School Gymnasium Sunday, May 12, 2013 4:00 p.m.
Slide Presentation, begins 3 p.m. Seniors 2013 Processional Santa Fe Band “Pomp and Circumstance” Pledge to the Flag Presentation of Awards Dr. Gini Barnett Superintendent of Schools Salutatorian’s Address Valedictorian’s Address Presentation of Senior Awards Tom Burton High School Principal Scholarship Presentation Tom Burton and Jennifer Hobbs, High School Counselor Presentation of Class Tom Burton Awarding of Diplomas John Zitelman President, Board of Education Recessional Santa Fe Band “Medallion Overture” Class Officers Callie Gieselman, President Matt Brandt, Vice President Wynter Harms, Secretary Jessica Catlett, Treasurer Caleb Kirchhoff and Chelsea Winter, Student Council Representatives
Class Motto Life brings us tears, smiles and memories — the tears dry, the smiles fade, but the memories last forever Class Flower Daisy Class Colors Camouflage Class Sponsors Kinsey Harms, Becky Morse, Sheryl Wodrich
and Sheryl Wodrich of Alma. His activities and honors include NHS vice president, FFA, SADD president, Chiefs Club, Science Club, all-conference football, all-district basketball, all-state baseball, trapshoot team, academic letter, courtwarming king, Boys State, 4-H and Alma Fire Department. He plans to attend the University of Central Missouri and major in wildlife biology.
Learning, not grades, is primary focus
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — PAGE 21
by Sarah Reed Managing editor
Santa Fe High School senior Jessica Catlett thought back to the one year she participated in 4-H. She received grand champion ham. But because she didn’t enter anything else into the contest, she said she was disqualified. “I was really sad,” she laughed. As a result, Catlett didn’t return to 4-H. Instead, she found other avenues to learn about leadership and communication. She also used her senior year to delve deeper into her studies. “I didn’t play any sports this year,” she explained. “I think a teacher told me last year … that grades weren’t always what you should focus on. That you should focus more on learning.” Catlett had participated in volleyball — her team going to state championship last year — but the excitement of reaching that level in athletics was always mirrored in academics. The concept of learning rather than testing has meshed for Catlett. During her senior year, she
changed setting her sights on grades to absorbing the information presented to her. “I was always pretty uptight about grades, and this year I still work really hard, but I‘ve learned how to deal with everything a little bit better,” she said. The deeper Catlett read between the lines, the closer it seems to have led her to a profession. Although her undergraduate major is still undecided, she’s leaning toward earning a degree in psychology from University of Central Missouri, in Warrensburg. “I thought about English for a while … but I kind of want to get a doctorate and become a psychologist or psychiatrist,” she ex-plained. “I always kind of wanted to be a writer, but it’s more of a hobby for me.” Catlett admitted being undecided on a major makes her nervous, but she hopes to have that decision ironed out by the end of her first year. Regardless of her nerves, Catlett’s looking forward to new opportunities that come along with a college career.
“I’m excited and I’m ready to move on,” she said, noting the transition is still a difficult one. “It’s just comfortable (here). You’re leaving your comfort zone.” She reflected on some of those comforts, sifting through memories created doing hair and makeup for high school plays — Catlett has been a member of the Speech and Drama Club, as well as participated in quiz bowl, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Students Against Destructive Decisions, and is the president of National Honor Society. Even taking college-level courses at Missouri Valley College in Marshall this year was it’s own adventure. “We made some pretty fun memories … carpooling,” she said, smiling. “You just get to know people better” in a small setting. Through those courses, Catlett accrued 21 hours of dual credit that will jump start her education as she works toward a doctorate. Until this fall, though, she’ll take the time to get through this chapter first.
Survey: More parents pursuing college degrees
(ARA) — Enhanced earning potential and more career opportunities are two of the many benefits of earning an advanced degree. Now, many mothers and fathers in America have discovered another benefit of going back to school — it is a great parenting tool. Parents are considering higher education not only to help them get ahead in the workplace, but also as a way to set a positive example for their children, according to a recent survey from University of
Phoenix. Parents are twice as likely to go back to school as non-parents, according to the survey, and 46 percent of parents who have plans to head back to school will do so to make their families proud. Eighty-one percent of the parents also said they believe a degree is important in today’s job market. If parents are considering returning to school, here Read more on page 22
Photo furnished
Jessica Catlett, Santa Fe High School class of 2013, will attend University of Central Missouri this fall. Catlett currently plans to study psychology.
to the 2013 Seniors Kevin & Kris Reinwald
Cree Mee Freeze
Congratulations Santa Fe High School Graduates
Alma Building Supply Alma Meats Beerman Heating & Cooling Biffle’s Smoke House BBQ Tony Brackman – Pioneer Seeds Britt’s Central Drug Store Buck’s Country Mart Cathy’s Country Restaurant Central Missouri AgriService
Concordia Implement Concordia Veterinary Clinic Curt & Karol’s Home Center Robert Engle, D.D.S. Evans Equipment Game Day Trophy & Athletic Garst Seed — David Lueck Gene’s Bulldozing Homestead 3 Realty
Gieselman engineers future in Rolla
PAGE 22 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
by Sarah Reed Managing editor
As graduation nears, some seniors are still in the process of determining their paths. For others, a person or experience they’ve had has helped them decide early on what to do after high school. Santa Fe High School senior Callie Gieselman seemed to have her course sketched out. For her, it includes studying engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. “I’ve always wanted straight A’s,” she said. “Since elementary school I’ve always been focused on (that).” The desire Gieselman has to try her best at anything she puts her hand to emanates from the accomplishments she’s had in high school. She’s a professed perfectionist who’s taken on multiple activities the past four years. She’s a member of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Students Against
PARENTS
Destructive Decisions, National Honor Society, the Speech and Drama Club, and Science and Math Clubs. She also participated in quiz bowl and has been active with school plays, whether on stage or designing sets. In addition to those extra-curricular activities, Gieselman is one of Santa Fe’s versatile athletes. She competes in basketball and softball, and her volleyball team has gone to the state championship the past two years. “We hadn’t made it to state before … we weren’t expecting to go,” she explained, adding the team’s hard work and the addition of a new coach helped boost the team to that level. Working those activities into her plans may have been challenging, but it’s a design that’s now paying off. The senior has 21 hours of dual credit that will transfer to college with her. “The last couple years have been tougher, because
are a few simple ways to help ensure a rewarding experience for them and their children: 1. Talk to children early — Parents often start saving for a child’s college education when that child is still in elementary school. Why not start talking to them about the importance of higher education at the same time? 2. Illustrate education as the path to a career — It is important for children to understand how education can have an impact on their career prospects as adults. 3. Make education a family affair — Establishing
you have dual credit classes and weighted classes that get more difficult,” she said. But she kept plugging away. Now, Gieselman will be the first in her family to leave the area for school. Her siblings chose Missouri Valley College, in Marshall — just 22 miles away and where Gieselman and her classmates take collegelevel coursework. “I’m nervous about not knowing anybody,” she said. “It’s kind of sad to leave this place. You know the teachers so well and all the students.” Gieselman thought back to her time at Trinity Lutheran School in Alma and then with Santa Fe, knowing that her experiences have helped shape her, not simply her grades. And as she looks forward, her sketches will change, but always with perfected details from the past. Sarah Reed/The Concordian Callie Gieselman is the Callie Gieselman graduates from Santa Fe High School daughter of David and Wendy Gieselman, of Cor- this spring. She plans to study engineering at Missouri der. University of Science and Technology in Rolla.
a family study time is a great way for parents and children to connect over a common goal. Seeing a parent display dedication to studying and earning a degree helps children understand the importance of developing a work ethic and setting priorities. 4. Involve other key individuals in the decision, including children — Parents balancing family, work and school obligations can benefit from discussing their educational goals and commitments with influencers in their lives, including employers, friends and family members.
HAT’S OFF TO YOU GRADS! Congratulations to all graduates and their families.
Meyer Medical Clinic Jerry L. Meyer, M.D.
Congratulations Santa Fe High School Graduates
JB Builders Jon’s Body Shop Kleinschmidt’s Western Wear Lafayette Travel & Cruise Elmer Leimkuehler – Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Lutheran Good Shepherd Home M & S Equipment McDonald’s of Concordia Meyer Motors
MFA Agri Services — Alma Mid-Missouri Agri Services NAPA – Concordia Auto Parts Old Time General Store Rudi’s Carpet & Furniture State Farm Insurance — Wanda Skelton Strobel Seed & Chemical TJ’s Auto Service Trails Regional Library
THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — PAGE 23
Congratulations 2013 Graduates Best of luck in the future! from
THE CONCORDIAN
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D N’T DRINK & DRIVE PAGE 24 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Way to Go, Grads!
Mid Missouri Home Center 100 Sunset Hills Dr. Concordia, Mo. 660-463-2624 • 1-800-343-1922
Congratulations Class of 2013! 660-335-4700
You’ve got your whole life ahead of you.
Congratulations Concordia Graduates!
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Best Wishes Graduates Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home Concordia and Sweet Springs
660-463-2266
www.i70medcenter.com
Super Job, Graduates!
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Saluting the Class of 2013 ®
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Saluting the Class of 2013!