JAMESTOWN, Mo. -- On Friday, May 19, at Jamestown School, 19 seniors and 13 eighth-graders took the walk across the stage to graduate.
The eighth-graders led off in the processional played by the Jamestown School Band. They were followed by the graduating seniors in going to their seats at the front of the gym. Superintendent Ellen Ash welcomed everyone present, followed by Kacey Clay singing, accompanied by Jessie Rohrbach, "100 Years" by Five For Fighting.
Principal Matt McDannold presented Salutatorian Maggie McNay and Valedictorian Allison Hawley. McNay spoke of the students now making their own choices, facing fears and new challenges and making new memories.
Hawley recommended the Class of 2021 try something new. "Make memories and remember; time goes by fast. Don't be afraid to take charge, but don't rush into things." She commented, that as the students go on through life, "We'll have to step back." From there, be aware of the failures, but enjoy the triumph and personal victories.
The speaker, Jim Eisenreich, an 18-year professional baseball player, was introduced by Ash. Eisenreich, who played for the Kansas City Royals, said he graduated 40 years ago. He said he does not remember who the speaker was or what he or she said, but still remembers what he was thinking about while the event was going on. Question one: how long is this thing going to last? The second question was, "Is some else's tassels going to hit me in the face?
He continued by saying that the journey began at birth - this is just a rest stop. Eisenreich went on with one of several baseball metaphors, "If in the first inning, I strike out with the bases loaded, I can't be down. I have to go on. So enjoy the first inning - it's going to happen."
About the current generation of high school grads, he said, "I've been told the our generation is limited to 140 characters." But he recommended everyone write at least one handwritten note.
He ended with, "Let the worst day of your future be like the best day of your past."
The eighth-grade graduates were presented and awarded diplomas by School Board President Bill Scheperle. Eighth-grade graduates were: Elizabeth Grace Ash, Dante Arnold Diesel, Cassie Sue Gerlach, Morgan Grace Heiland, Cole Miles Higgins, Tristan Blake Jones, Callon Dewayne Kersey, Amanda LeAnn Mummert, Anna Rose Scheperle, McKinley Gordon Sorrels, Samuel Arthur Squires, Brooke Elizabeth Stone and Kaitlin Rania Tice.
The senior graduates were presented and awarded diplomas by board members Bill Scheperle and John McNay. Graduating were Cole Douglas Brizendine, Rebecca Mahala Clevenger, Sierra Leigh Cooper, Kamden Fisher Flippin, Allison Faith Hawley, Baylee Ann Johnson, Amber Nicole Jones, Lucas Samuel Knierim, Summer Michele Logan, Austin Ray Maslen, Dakota Lee Matthews, Angela Dawn McNay, Maggie Jo McNay, Kane Martellis Mills, Ryan Matthew Nott, Ashley Delynn Porter, Shelby Lynn Stone, Trevor Walker Van Matre and Shyla Kay Wurster.
There are eight National Honor Society members in the Class of 2017 - Cooper, Flippin, Hawley, Maslen, Matthews, both McNays and Stone. There are also three junior firefighters in the class - Brizendine, Knierim and Mills.
Class President Kamden Flippin directed the new graduates to switch their cap tassels, at which point they left during the recessional as the audience stood.
Pick up a copy of the May 24, 2017 issue of the California Democrat newspaper to see additional photos from the Jamestown graduation ceremonies.
Correction: In the original version of this article, part of the message given by the valedictorian was incorrectly attributed to the salutatorian. The error has since been corrected in the text above.