Sunday, May 8, 2022

Nathan Meyer is Valedictorian, Trevor Henggeler Salutatorian at NEN Graduation

Nathan Meyer was named Valedictorian for Northeast Nodaway and Trevor Henggeler Salutatorian at graduation ceremonies Sunday. 24 seniors graduated, the most at Northeast Nodaway in quite some time. The remembrance video of the seniors included quite a bit of pictures from the past, including Trevor Henggeler dressing up as Santa Claus.

Graduating this year were Landen Allen, Ben Boswell, Anne Briney, Lane Dack, Melanie Duncan, Levi Germann, Trevor Henggeler, Preston Hillyard, Jozlynn Hopper, Torri Kephart, Kodie Meyer, Nathan Meyer, Justin Miller, Kirsten Morrow, Brayden Munns, Abagail Paugh, Natalia Paugh, Auston Pride, Zach Pride, Rachelle Rodriguez, Carson Runde, Colton Swalley, Dawson Vore, and Dylan Wilmes. 

The Class Flower was the white lily. The Class Motto was, “Life’s a garden. Dig it. Make it work for ya.” The Class Colors were blue and black. Class officers were Torri Kephart (President), Trevor Henggeler (Vice-President), Zach Pride (Secretary), and Ben Boswell (Treasurer).

The guest speaker was Jared Freemyer, who was a paraprofessional while the current seniors were in preschool and he was teaching them how to tie their shoes and he was having to keep them out of trouble. “You grow up; the world will send a message that everyone has to be equal. It’s not going to happen that way. You all have different talents and work ethics,” he said. “Some of you work with your hands and others of you work with your minds.”

Freemyer said that the things they think will make them happy now might change as they learn to put others first. “If you’re a good person, I’ll be happy,” he said. “Stay the course, look at reality, and get pleasure from each other’s joy.”

Henggeler told stories about some of the memories that the class had. Two years ago, a bunch of them were in Mrs. Henry’s class and she was out of her room when word got out that the school would be closed for two weeks due to COVID. Normally, they kept a watch for her coming back and did a good job concealing the fact that they had been on their cell phones. But when they peppered her with questions about what was going on, she figured out they had been on their cell phones instead of working and made a rule that they had to turn them in to her at the start of class, and she would hold them until class was over. They got off the hook when the two weeks turned into the rest of the school year.

According to Henggeler, there were plenty of unwritten rules at Northeast Nodaway, including:

–Don’t go to the Platte River for Duck Days without checking with Mrs. Beatty;

–Never tell Mrs. Beatty she looks tired;

–Never tell Mr. Freemyer one’s vote doesn’t matter;

–Always ask the janitor if he’s working hard or hardly working;

–Always ask Mr. Primm for his pirate stories;

–The Class of 2022 must always come in second in float competitions.

“Now, we have to deal with this thing called life,” said Nathan Meyer before the students honored their friends and loved ones with flowers and accepted their diplomas.

Landen Allen is entering the workforce. Ben Boswell is joining the family construction business with the goal of owning the business in the future. Anne Briney plans to work as a paraprofessional with the goal of becoming a teacher. Lane Dack and Melanie Duncan are entering the workforce. Levi Germann is planning to become a heavy machine operator.

Trevor Henggeler is attending Northwest to major in Ag Business. He got a $2,000 scholarship from MFA, a $2,000 Tower Scholarship, the Northwest A+ Scholarship, The Nodaway County Cattlemen’s Association Scholarship, the National FFA Built Ford Tough Scholarship, the GRM Scholarship, the Adopt-a-Bearcat Scholarship, the B.D. & Sue Wright Owens Scholarship, the Alvin & Mary Luke Memorial Scholarship, the Ravenwood CBC Scholarship, the Jackson Township Fire Protection Scholarship, the Northeast Nodaway John T. Belcher Scholarship, and the Northeast Nodaway Student Leadership Scholarship.

Preston Hillyard plans to enter the workforce in a trade skill. Jozlynn Hopper plans to obtain her CMT and work in a nursing home as a CMT. Torri Kephart plans to attend college to pursue a career in social work or teaching. She received the Kenny Dougan Memorial Scholarship and the Alvin & Mary Luke Memorial Scholarship. Kodie Meyer is entering the workforce.

Nathan Meyer is attending Northwest to major in Studio Art (Drawing). He received the Distinguished Scholar Award, the Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation Access Scholarship, the Marvin & William Combs Memorial Scholarship, the Northwest A+ Scholarship, and the Distinguished Scholar Day Scholarship.

Justin Miller is entering the workforce. Kirsten Morrow is entering the workforce. Brayden Munns plans to enter the field of law enforcement. Abagail Paugh and Natalia Paugh are entering the workforce. Auston Pride plans to attend college to major in wildlife ecology or enter the workforce. Zach Pride is entering the workforce. Rachelle Rodriguez is entering the workforce as a CAN with the goal of becoming a nurse. Carson Runde is entering the workforce; he will be working with the family farm.

Colton Swalley is attending North Central Missouri College for two years, then transferring to Missouri S&T to major in Electrical Engineering. He received the Kenny Dougan Memorial Scholarship, the Jack Young, Mildred Young, Noble Young, and Myra Young Scholarship, the Northeast Nodaway CTA Scholarship, the Northeast Nodaway Student Council Scholarship, and the John Barber Memorial Scholarship.

Dawson Vore is entering the workforce with the goal of going into law enforcement. Dylan Wilmes is attending Northwest Missouri State and majoring in Wildlife Ecology. He received the NEBS Four Year Scholastic Award and the Jackson Township Fire Protection Scholarship.


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