Farmington graduates 255 Knights

As the Farmington High School Class of 2016 waited for their commencement ceremony to begin on Sunday afternoon they spent the time reminiscing about the last four years, searched out their favorite teachers or sat quietly waiting for the big event to begin.

But none of them could mask the excitement or the anxiety of a day that was 13 years in the making.

“I am excited about today,” said senior Lauren Moffitt. But it’s a good excitement.”

As the Farmington High School Band played Pomp and Circumstance the graduating class was led into the Farmington Civic Center by school board members, administrators and faculty members.

As they made the way to their seats the graduates passed two chairs they left vacant for Caleb Crews and Walker Johns, two classmates they had lost but never forgot.

Upon the graduating class taking their places, the band played the National Anthem while the Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors.

Next, Abigail Winch, student council president, welcomed family and friends to the commencement and recognized members of her class who would be serving in the Armed Forces upon graduation.

The first guest speaker of the afternoon was Dr. Steven Kurtz, president of the Mineral Area College, who recognized the 10 year partnership between the college and Farmington School District.

Kurtz recognized the students who were graduating with the Mineral Area College 42-hour General Education block. These students were Kasey Buckley, Hayley Crites, Lindsey Grief, Andrew Longworth and Sarah Ross.

Kurtz also recognized the 20 students who graduated with an Associate of Arts degree from Mineral Area College on May 7. These students included: Jay Bales, Megann Belken, Taylor Berghuas, Mariana Clubb, Brylon Denman, Shaylyn Garner, Kelsey Krause, Carly Luther, Litany Maize, Alison Porter, Brandon Resinger, Luis Ruiz, Michelle Scheiffele, Ryan Schwartzkopf, Kathryn Scism, Joshua Stevens, Jesse Stover, Allison Wadlow, Johnathan Widdows, Adam Womack and Sarai Worley.

Following Dr. Kurtz, Senior Class President Kelsey Krause took to the stage to present the Senior Challenge to the Class of 2017.

Krause gave the new seniors four challenges. The first was to overcome obstacles that will undoubtedly come. Second, the class president challenged her younger classmates to express gratitude to those who help along the way and not wait until it’s too late. Third, she recommended they vaccinate themselves against senioritis and push themselves through their final year. Finally, she asked the junior class to be humble and to use their success to help others.

Junior Class president Marriah Strange took to the stage and accepted the Senior Class Challenge.

She pledged that her class would strive to live up to the expectations of the class of 2016. She informed the graduating class that the juniors will overcome any obstacles that may get in their way, to express gratitude to those who pushed them along the way, try not let senioritis get the best of them, and to be modest about the things they have worked so hard for.

This year’s graduating class chose Dr. Brian Reeves, the history and humanities instructor at the high school, to be the keynote speaker.

During his speech, Reeves thanked the class for the honor of speaking to them and told them he will remember this day even years from now when his son Evan puts him in the cheapest nursing home he can find.

Reeves offered his former charges several pieces of advice. He began with thanking their parents for getting them to the point of graduation. He told them to pick a great spouse, someone who will make them a better person, and not to depend on others to bring them happiness.

He told the graduates to focus on excellence and to do something they love for career. Reeves added they must realize it is work and there will be days when they will not want to do it.

He advised the class they must decide what to do with the life they have been given, and to put their family first.

After Dr. Reeves’ speech, Jamie LaMonds, associate principal at the high school, presented Sinjin Jue with the Knight of the Year Award, an award that not only takes into consideration academics, but also the student’s character as well. The student receives this award based on the recommendations from teachers.

Before the presentation of diplomas, Dr. Nathan Hostetler’s, the high school principal,  introduced the top 10 students, including the Class Valedictorian Michael McNamara, who will be attending Yale University in the fall, and Salutatorian Nick Cassimatis, who will be going on to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

McNamara then addressed the audience, his family and his class and thanked those who helped him achieve his success including his teachers, advisers and his parents.

Upon the conferring of degrees the Class of 2016 did what most graduates do, they threw their mortar boards in the air, hugged each other and proceed to find their family members to celebrate one of the most important days of their lives.

The Farmington High School graduating class of 2016 included: Michaela Marie Adams, Reagan Elaine Amonette, Kirsten Andrea, Per Einar Andresen, Kaylin Nichole Andrews, Bryan Konnor Arnett, Briel Raphael Arradaza, Bailey Ryan Austin, Nicolas Robert Lee Ayers, John Marcus Bader, Jay Dee Bales, Alex Joseph Barker, Ashley Jonna Barker, Chelsey Ann Barnes, Marcus Alan Belken, Megann Elizabeth Belken, Montica Lynnett Benscoter, Brady Shane Benson, Madison Laine Benson, Adrienne Lorrain Bequette, Emily June, Taylor Wayne Berghaus, Madison Beth Berry, Summer Elizabeth Berry, Nicholas Paul Bertram, Rachel Ann Blackburn, Emily Kate Blanton, Irene Bompieri, Blair Robert Boyd, Alicia Jean Boyer, Caroline Aliece Boyer, Clifford Braggs, Jake R Bramlage, Dustin Edward Bridgeman, Morgan Georgia Brockmiller, Kasey Lynn Buckley, Max Evan Burch, Michael, David Burnette, Brandt Chandler Busenbark, Sage MacKenzie Busenbark, Wyatt Jeffrey ByFord, Allayna Marie Campbell, Timothy Scott Carron II, Andrew Bryce Cash, Nicholas Ted Cassimatis, Andre Damian Castro, Brenden Alec Clark, Mariana MacHado Clubb, Aberdine Gena Cole, Jasmine Violet Coleman, Shelby Lynn Collins, Richard Andrew Conrad, Ethan Alexander Cook, Jensenmark Capio Cowley, Kalyn Brooke Cox, Damian Joseph Craig, Casey Leeann Crawford, Breanna Crews, Hayley Meleace Crites, Tricia Lynn Crites, Ezra Michael Crocker, Haleigh Elizabeth Danieley, Ellaina Korinne Davis, Kyle James Davis, Timothy Lee Day, Alexia Diane Deason, Brylon Nicole Denman, Christian Mitchel Devine, Brittany Nicole DeWalt, Jordan Thomas-Lee Dickerson, Shannon Elizabeth Dodson, Logan Matthew Dotson, Megan Gail Downs, Matthew James Eaton, Vanessa Marie Ellison, Ryan Avery Erard, Kaleb Matthew Grego Erwin, Isaac Alexander Faulkner, Sophia Marie Fedele, Taylor Nicole Feltz, Carly Rey Ferguson, Pau Figols, Anthony Austin Lane Files, Caleb Justis Folsom, Madison Elaine Francis, Peyton Elise Gallagher, Samuel Thomas Gallaher, Shaylyn Renee Garner, Sydney Baird Gibbs, Karli Nicole Giessing, Jeremy Patrick Gore, Sunny Marie Gore, Emilie Renate Granlien, Lindsey Christene Greif, Tanner Joseph Grimes, Christon Elissa Hahn, Camron Daniel Haines, Carmen Haines, Dillon Thomas Hallin, Koby Reid Hand, Katlyn Nicole Hannah, Mason Daniel Harrington, Essance Mone’T Harris, Matthew Jacob Harris, Molly Ann Harris, Grant Tyler Harrison, Connor William Chris Hein, Kiana Raegan Henderson, Anthony James Hernandez, Hannah Renea Hight, Spencer Calla Hoffmeister, Dominick Andrew Holifield, Sierra Dawn Holt, Collin Joseph Huitt, Cade Michael Hutson, Minttu Marleena Huttu, Caleb Claude Ingram, Haley Rachelle Jackson, Jakob Lee Jackson, Alexis Bryanne Johnson, Christian Ray Jones, Cory James Jones, Courtney Jane Jones, Sydney Elese Jones, Jonah Maureice Joy, Sinjin Scott Jue, Kalob Levi Kathcart, Kammi Ruchelle Keehl, Brenden Robert Kelly, Charles Zachariah Kimpel, Ashton Jo King, Orion Andrew Koderick, Amber Marie Kostic, Brayden Lancelot Krause, Kelsey Erin Krause, Jessica M Krumm, Victor Michael Lavella, Justin Carl Lawson, Lanie Dawn Lawson, Amy Le, Mackenzie Rae Legan, Brittany Michelle Link, Garrett Michael Allen Link, Andrew Nicholas Longworth, Carly Luther, Ashlyn Paige Mack, Litany Olyvia Maize, Jordan Willis Malugen, Kara Ann Martin, Annabel Martinez-Hellevik, Arran William McAllister, Matthew David McCarthy, Domonick Roy McEntire, Corinna Joan McFall, William R McKenzie, Alexandria Nicole McKinnon, Kenneth Andrew McManus, Michael Patrick McNamara, Savanah Leigh Medlin, Joli Marie Menefee, Jacob Earl Merritt, Julianne Elizabeth Miller, Riley Christopher Miller, Kavin Millstead, Lauren Elizabeth-Raquelle Moffit, Chase Allen Montgomery, Jessie Sue Montgomery, Maisie Lee Morris, Jacey Nicole Moser, Aubany Lynn Murphy, Hope Gabriella Murphy, Allyanna Tayte Myers, Robin Alexander Nappo-Svensson, Sydney Aryn Neiter, Cynthia Lynn Nelson, Madison Paige Nicholson, Jared Patrick Nickelson, Christopher Ryan Nickles, Gregory Michael Parks, James Noah Patterson, Austin Scott Patton, Alexis Elizabeth Pauls, Wesley Wayne Pennington, Tina Elizabeth Penrose, Lilly Rae Persons, Emma Danielle Petty, Jacob Price Pogue, Oscar Polo, Alison Raye Porter, Brandon Lee Ramsey, Brittany Nicole Redmond, Amber Nichole Renicker, Brandon Michael Resinger, Landon Michael Rigdon, Ryane Cody Robertson, Chloe Elizabeth Robinson, Riley Nicole Rogers, Sarah Lynn Ross, Aaron Michael Rowe, Brady Lane Rowl, Luis Carlos Ruiz, Allyson Elizabeth Salz, Chayatorn Samakkee, David Santiago, Nayatis Aliel Laroc Santiago, Devin Odell Savage, Fiama Scaglioni, Tyler Isaiah Maeson Scales, Michelle Ann Scheiffele, Xavier Michael Schrader, Ryan David Schwartzkopf, Valeria Anne Schwent, Kathryn Elyse Scism, Molly Ann Scoggin, Miranda Grace Scruggs, William Edwin Seibert, Rob Joe Sexton, Jessie Mariah Shaver, Jackson Wallace Shinkle, Sabrina Ann Shipman, Olivia Katelyn Siebert, Justine Elise Simmons, Austin Sines, Braydon Conner Slade, Anna Marie Slinkard, Cameron Michael Smith, Joshua Taylor Stevens, Jesse Thomas Stover, Heath William Strickland, Tiffany Sue Sullivan, Cole David Sutton, Zachary David Tharp, Kylie Jane Thompson, Madison Alise Thompson, Garrett Edward Thomure, Jessica Rachelle Todd, Kayla Townsend, Madelynn Pearl Tripp, Dylan Tyler Tucker, Danielle Jordan Turner, Dillon James Vance, Jordan Scott Vangennip, Chase Alexandra Vargo, Hunter Alexis Vargo, Leah Michele Villmer, Grant Hughes Waddell, Justin Micheal Wade, Allison Marie Wadlow, Mariah Dawn Waldorf, Maressa Lynn Walker, Samantha Lynn Wampler, Alyssa Lauryn Ward, Kaleigh Jane Warren, Madison Leigh Watkins, Travis Glen Weible, Dillion Lloyd White, Alexa Nicole Whited, Johnathan Michael Widdows, William Zachary Williams, Robin Jake Wilson, Wade Thomas Wilson, Jenna Mae Windsor, Mason John Wolfe, Adam Ross Womack, Cheyenne Nicole Womack, Tasha Dawn Womack, Sarai Jane Worley, Alivia Marie Wright, McKenzie Cheyenne Wright, Micheal Philip Wright, Christina Marie Zarco.

Craig Vaughn is a reporter for the Farmington Press and can be reached at 573-518-3629 or at cvaughn@farmingtonpressonline.com