Some 270 receive diplomas from FHS

A total of 270 graduates received diplomas Sunday afternoon at Farmington High School commencement exercises held in the Farmington Civic Center. Four FHS seniors graduated for a second time in a month … once from high school and the other from college.

Ashley Leimkueher, Careea Ransom, Lisa Rice and Morgan Allen received high school diplomas along with the other 266 students who graduated from Farmington High on Sunday afternoon. Ransom and Leimkueher did the Dual Credit program so they could knock two years off their college years. Both are planning on being veterinarians and will be transferring to University of Missouri-Columbia. Both graduated from MAC with their Associate of Arts in general studies.

Rice and Allen got their Associate of Arts degree in business administration. Both will be transferring to Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau in the fall to study business.

During Sunday’s graduation the four were recognized for their accomplishments. Linda Huffman, registrar at Mineral Area College, congratulated them for the May 7 graduation from MAC. Drew Fuemmeler was also recognized for completing the 42-hour general education block.

“When we went to high school it began as unfamiliar territory. By playing X Boxes and getting speeding tickets we began figuring out what we wanted in life,” said Senior Class President Alex Cofer.

Cofer gave the senior class challenge during the graduation ceremony. He challenged the class of 2012 to stay focused because “senioritis” is real. There is no time to slack, he said. He added they should pay attention to deadlines and make sure to keep priorities straight. If students do this they will be successful. Finally, he said they should enjoy the remaining time with friends.

“It is time to leave it to the class of 2012,” said Cofer.

Junior Class President Marissa Sutherland responded to the challenges.

“The class of 2011 have been role models for the class of 2012. On behalf of the class of 2012 we accept the challenge,” said Sutherland.

She said staying focused means school must be the top priority. The junior class had good role models in the class of 2011 and they will strive to be the best leaders they can be to the underclassmen and will spend their last moments efficiently.

The commencement speaker for this year’s graduation was Foreign Language Teacher Sandra Crain.

“I debated about wearing my graduation robe. However, I tend to be animated and was worried people would think I was about to take flight. So I opted not to wear my robe,” said Crain.

Crain said she was honored when the students asked her to be this year’s speaker. “Quirky and eccentric thinking is a nice way of saying you are a free thinker and march to your own drum,” said Crain.

She encouraged the students to find their talents … some know from an early age, while others are still searching and will take longer to find.

She said she routinely cries at the end of each school year but knows the students will be back in the fall. However, these students won’t be back in the fall. They are moving on with their lives.

Farmington High School Assistant Principal Susan Barber recognized Nicholas Sutherland as Knight of the Year.

High School Principal Matt Ruble named the Top Ten students: Drew Fuemmeler, Kelsey Mengwasser, Nicholas Sutherland, Andrew King, Zachary Thomas, Lauren Womack, Lauren Beavers, Ashley Lacy, Ashley Leimkuehler and Careea Ransom.

Fuemmeler gave the valedictorian speech and said on behalf of the class of 2011 he would like to thank Mrs. Crain for being their speaker. “Some are ready to leave school and join the workforce, military or continue their education. While others are sentimental and don’t want to leave yet,” said Fuemmeler. He said this year had been full of good times and bad, but mostly good. “We all make mistakes. Just analyze them and change the outcome for the next time,” he said.

The graduates for the class of 2011 include: Matthew Michael Adams, Andrew Cody Ahlemeyer, Joshua Dennis Alexander, Bryana Marie Allen, Morgan Rae Allen, Scotty Lee Allen, Justine Heather Allison, Amber Anderson, Jonathan Michael Anderson, Timothy M Anderson, Morgan Kathleen Ankrom, Hannah Louise Asher, Brett Michael Bader, Anna Mae Elizabeth Barlow, Kyle Edward Bauche, Savannah Marie Beard, Ryan Lee Beason, Lauren Elizabeth Beavers, Mark Beckett, Abby Marie Bender, Bradley J Besemer, Amanda Leanne Blair, Evan Dale Boatright, Ryan Boekemier, Jesecca Lynn Bone, Alexander Daniel Boyd, Molly Elizabeth Boyd, Todd J Brackett II, Katelyn Joy Brady, Mary Elizabeth Brann, Amie Marie Branstetter, Megan Marie Breeding, Joe Brown, Lennart Buhbe, Brittney Deann Bulliner, Kristin Gail Bullock, Allison Cheyenne Burkhart, Kyle S Busby, Laura Beth Byington, Caleb James Cartee, Skyler Lee Cartee, Siera Andrea Castro, Robert E Chadwell, Clint Ryan Champion, Leonard Chenault, Malory Lyn Chronister, Joshua James Clark, Alexander Blane Cofer, Mackenzie Ann Coleman, Nathan Lee Comnick, Julio Cesar Coronado, Alexandre Nogueira Costa, Tyler Brandon Counts, Ashley Jolane Crawford, Linsey Raeann Crawford, Martha Elizabeth Crites, Lauren Michele Crocker, Quinton Paul Crump, Andrew Bishop Cunningham, Jeremy Andrew Currington, Katie Lynne Currington, Jason Todd Currington Jr,  Molly Danielle Dalton, Britny Nicole Dane, Chay Alixander Dann, Samantha Audrey Day, Shaw Renee Day, Karter Shipley Denman, Haily Miranda Deshon, Michelle Stefanie Dietrich, Nicholas Griffen Dore, Ken Kelly Doromal I, Zachary Ryan Dotson, Kayla Bryanne Drye, Kyle Christopher Duncan, Dylan Ray Duvall, Robert Gary Dziewa, Connor Thane Eaton, Kelbie Danielle Eaves, Kayla Dawn Edgar, Tiffany Michelle Edmond, Samuel Stephen Effrein, Dylan E Elders, William Dean Elledge, Austin Andrew Ely, Mihaela Grace Fain, Ryan Joseph Figge, Mariah Susane Finch, Hannah Renae Forsythe, Kellsey Renee Francis, Kodi Lynn Francis, Russell Allen Franklin Jr, Drew Mitchell Fuemmeler, Brendan Matthew Gallagher, Daniel James Garcilaso, Kristina Nicole Gartner, Derrick Joseph Geiler, Elisabeth Elayne Gilliam, Kevin Lance Gilliam, Brittany Ann Gladbach, David Bryan Gray, Faith Danielle Griffard, Jimmy Augustus Griffin, Jessica M Griffon, Peter Adam Grindel, Brett Douglas Gutches, Meagen Michele Gwin, Jewelynn Hahn, Brian Douglas Hallin, Brooke Nicole Hamm, Ryan Paul Hampton, Whitney Lynn Harrington, Alysa Danielle Hasenstab, Kaitlin Marie Hayes, Samuel Hays, Justin Brice Heberlie, Chance Ryan Herman, Zachary Scott Hibbits, Whitney Clarissa Hicks-Veach, Rebecca Joy Hoff, Mallory Lee Ann Huck, Lawrence James Hughes, Austin A Hurt, Olivia Kathryn Hyde, Ashli Diane Ikerman, Monte Robert Isgrig Jr, Ethan James Jennings, Ashley Marie Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Elizabeth Marie Karl, Jacob M Kelleher, Alexandra Elizabeth Kennon, Hannah Nicole Ketcherside, Stanton Garet Ketcherside, Andrew Patrick King, Allison Paige Kinneman, Kacey Marie Klingelberg, Alain Tristan Kobler, Phillip Todd Kreitler, Emilie Jane La Breyere, Charles Labry, Ashley Renee Lacy, Jessica Guadalupe Lara, Erica Shane Laurence, Ashley Nicole Leimkuehler, Madeline Marie Leonardo, Amber Mae Lewis, Staci Licavoli, Madison June Lilley, Ashley Marie Linnenbringer, Erin Ashley Littrell, Dillon Wayne Lustick, Tiffany Ann Marler, Megan Roseann Martin, Summer Michelle Martin, Justin T Massey, Miranda NormaJean McDonald, Joel Keith Meador, Kayla Marie Mengwasser, Kelsey Paige Mengwasser, Lacey Ann Merz, Beth Anna Jane Meyer, Tayhlor McKenzie Milfeld, Colten Alan Miller, Callie Dawn Montgomery,Christian Shea Montgomery, Jesus Alberto Morales, James Timothy Lee Morgan Jr, Michael Todd Mosier, Rachel Olivia Mynear, Dustin Shane Nall, Garrett Tyler Nash, Holly Nichols, Dylan Rodney Nicholson, Eric Lee Noll, Holden Baker Nye, Stephanie Oberreiter, Katherine Anne Odom, Randi Allanna Parks, Paige Nicole Patterson, Nina-Maria Pellikka, Taylin Nicole Persons, Kelly Suzanne Petersen, Brittany Ann Ashley Peterson, Eugene Charles Petty, Ross Levi Petty, Lauren Marie Pfister, Zachary David Pinkley, Dakota Nicholas Pirtle, Heather Nicole  Porzeinski, Sara Jayne Pothetos, Caleb A Pritchett, Kurt Thomas Pritchett, Garrett Joseph Pyatt, Careea Lee Ransom, Kyle W Rausch, Kyle Lee Renshaw, Jerry Lee Reeves III, Ashley Nicole Resener, Lisa Marie Rice, Rachel A Rice, Rachelle Nicole Richardson, Jennafer Elaine Rigdon, Austin James Robert, Brittney Ann Roberts, Christopher James Roberts, Nadine M Rohlik, Nathan Rothlisberger, Derek Michael Savage, Elise Michelle Leann Schmidt, Christopher Michael Schrum, Gabrielle Joi Schultz, Jessica Carol Ann Sexton, Shalynda Ann Shover, Brandon Alexander Shuster, Karyssa Rachelle Snyder, Christian Spencer Speer, Shawn Michael Spray, Mary Elizabeth Steinbecker, Coltn Adam Steinmetz, Brianna Nicole Stevens, Amber Alise Stewart, Joshua Michael Strait, Kayla Renae Stricklin, Misty Stringer, Easton Blake Sucharski, Nicholas James Sutherland, Jeffrey Shane Sweeney, Dionna Swyers, Dustin Paul Tate, Michael James Teliszewski, Conan Ernie Thomas, Zachary John Thomas, Sarah Elizabeth Thompson, Brandon M Thomure, Louise Tillander, Michael David Turner, Katie Lee Usherwood, Kimberly Renee Vincent, Lindsey Marie Warmoth, Jullie Warner, Katelyn Christine Warren, Abigael Kathryn West, Anthony David White, Elliott Vilas Wicks, Craig Lee Wilson Jr, Gabriel Luke Wilson, Drew Richard Winder, Amalie Wismar, Adam Raymond Wolk, Lauren Elizabeth Womack, Brandon M Woods, John Robert Woody, Colton Glen Wooldridge, Chenghan Wu, Kristin Ashleigh Wunning, Angela Nicole Yeager, Colby Scott Yordy, Billy Jay Young, Bethany Dawn Zarcone and Ferras Jamal Zereik.