Central High School, Park Hills, Missouri,
graduates 113 seniors, 54 receive A+ scholarships

(A+ Graduates Stand)

Ceremony marked with tears and optimism  

By C.CLINE Daily Journal Staff Writer | Published Friday, May 21, 2010

PARK HILLS — Central’s Class of 2010 gathered one last time together Thursday night for graduation. The occasion was marked by tears of joy, applause and optimism. One-hundred and thirteen seniors received diplomas.

Fifty-four members of the senior class will receive two years of college tuition at no cost through the A+ program. High School Principal Brad Coleman said the class had the largest percentage of students in the history of Central’s MAC Pilot program who took college classes while in high school. In order to make the top 10 percent of the class a senior had to have a weighted grade point average of 4.5.

The senior class had two students who received associate degrees from Mineral Area College before they received their high school diplomas. Valedictorian Cameron Courtois graduated with 63 hours of college credit while Macy Edgar completed high school with 72 hours of college credit. Courtois will attend Missouri Baptist University next year and will major in biology. Edgar will attend St. Louis University (SLU) next year. Both Courtois and Edgar plan to attend medical school after they complete their bachelors degree.

Valedictorian, Cameron Courtois, addresses class of 2010.

Edgar said she decided to pursue her associate degree while in high school when she was in seventh grade. 

“I remembered hearing high school students could go to MAC,” she said. “It was very difficult. You give up a lot of fun times with your friends when you try to do this. I’m glad I did it though. The experience is going to help me a lot next year when I go off to SLU.”

Senior Class President Ryan Calvird said while in middle school, teachers said the Class of 2010 was the worst to come through in 15 years.

“You can’t enjoy a rainbow without a little rain,” Calvird said. “You’re welcome teachers.”

On a more solemn note Calvird noted several individuals who had an impact on the seniors who passed away.

Salutatorian Kathleen DeBlois opened her speech with a quote from John Lennon. 

“Thankfully, I’m the opening act,” she said. “Any expectations you put on student speeches, you put on the valedictorian.”

DeBlois reminisced about the hard work that went into her senior year. She talked about many sleepless nights in which there were papers to write or studying to be done. She talked about how good it felt to finally rest after she completed all the work.

Courtois said teaching the Class of 2010 required a sense of humor and an endless amount of patients.

“The adventure has been great,” he said. “Tonight represents our passage into adulthood. We have received all the proper tools we will ever need to overcome what life throws our way. Tonight we reflect on the memories we have made at Central.”

Seniors who received diplomas included: Megan Brittany Allgier, Jennie Marie Babb-Krastanoff, Bradley James Bales, Cody Joe Barnett,  Jacob Matthew Barton, Taylor Brooke Bollinger, Jessica Dawn Boyd, Jacob Martin Boyer, Janine Marie Boyer, Jaron Ray Brenneke, Krystal Rae Brewer, Olivia Paige Brown, Dylan Bradford Brundage, Klara Bunkova, Ashley Michelle Buntion, Ryan Wade Calvird, Jacob Wade Carr, Joshua David Carr, Brian Keith Carter, Jordan Carl Chapman, John Edward Christeson, Ashley Allegra Coplin, Jeffery Brian Counts, Cameron Ryan Courtois, Melanee Erica Cunningham, Breanna Michele Davis, Monica Nickco Davis, Kathleen Nicole DeBlois, Andrew Jordan Vincent DeClue, Brooke Michele Dixon, Lacinda Rachael Dodd, Kimberly Dawn Eckhoff, Macy Jordan Edgar, Breanna Nicole Elser, Alison Mary Fischbeck, Megan Nicole Flieg, Nicholas Duane Forest, Monica Lynn Foster, Tyler Anthony Friend, Kyle William Gibson, Levi Thomas Gibson, Jared Michael Gidney, Brandon Isaiah Goesmann, Tara Lee Goheen, Tyler Benjamin Gray, Alison Marie Green, Kyle Lee Grindstaff, William Daniel Hafner, Rodney Andrew Hall, Tyler Scott Harper, Patricia Lea Harris, Kyle Lee Hartley,  Elizabeth Marie Hartupee, Jaycee Laine Haus, Jeremiah Melvin Emery Leroy Hays, Jorden Scott Henson, Corvie Roynille Hill, Douglas Anthony Hill, Isabella Cinthea Horn, Nicholas Kohl Houseman, Rachael Ann Hudson, Haley Lin Johnson Huff, Kirsten Leanne Huff, Jared Charles Johnson, Jermaine Lamar Jones, Kyrissa Brooke Jones, Donald Lee Kennard, Matthew Dillion Ketterer, Christina Kopp, Amanda Sue LaChance, Kayla Marie Lahmann, Charles Shane Lee, Kohl Preston Lewis, Ryan Dean Lindsey, Dustin Blane Lyeki, Kylie Brooke Marler, Brittany Lee McCallister, Zachary Ryan Metcalf, Jessica Marie Mills, Jessica Lynn Moss, Christopher Lewis Mullins, Jake Phelan Owens, Jordan Taylor Andrew Pace, Amy Marie Parshall, Mariah Nicolle Payton, William Henry Penrose, Andrew Thomas Reed, Jerid Lee Rhodes, Kalin Nicole Ridings, Sean William Rogers, Addie Blair Scoggin, Lance Michael Seiberlich, Harley Levi Shannon, Tara Renee Simms, Logan Elizabeth Sisk, Teaonna Marie Skaggs, Brendon George Smith, Steven Alexander Sparks V, Jarred Lynn Stewart, Sarah Nichole Stokes, Joshua Kyle Vines, Daniel Andrew Wakefield, Jeramie Michael Warren, Adam Michael Waters, Sara Gayle Wehrman, Samuel Lewis Wells, Rachael Lynn Wesbecher, April Tiffany White, Amanda Beth Williams, Michael Earl Lee Williams, Stacey Nicole Williams, Amy Georgia Pearl Nicole Wills, Melinda Meagan Wood.