Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Lions Club presented Kendall Adams with a $1,000 scholarship recently.

Kendall is the daughter of Travis and Dana Adams.

She has played volleyball all four years of her high school career. She is also a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, FCCLA, Future Teachers of American Student Council, Dexter Honor Society, Top 10% of her class, and represented Dexter High School at Missouri Girls State.
She was also honored as an Academic All-State Volleyball Team member.

Her future plans are to attend the University of Mississippi.

The Dexter Lions Club raises money annually with their Golf Tournament (slated for July 15, 2017), a Waffle Day and they sell Funnel Cakes at the Stoddard County Fair in September.

Shown in the photo are Kevin Bishop, Lion’s Club Member, and Kendall Adams.

Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Lions Club presented Tyler Stevenson with a $1,000 scholarship recently.

Tyler Stevenson is the son of Kay Stevenson and Keith Stevenson.

He has been a member of the Dexter Bearcats Football team all four years of his high school career.  he has also played tennis all four years.  Tyler is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, DECA, Rotary Interact, and Dexter Honor Society.  He was a 2nd team All-Conference football team selection in 2014 and ESPN SEMO Gatorade Player of the Week in 2015.  He was also a member of the 2014 Academic All-State Football Team.

His future plans are to attend Harding University and major in Engineering.

The Dexter Lions Club raises money annually with their Golf Tournament (slated for July 15, 2017), a Waffle Day and they sell Funnel Cakes at the Stoddard County Fair in September.

Shown in the photo are Kay Stevenson, Kevin Bishop, Lion's Club Representative, Tyler Stevenson and Keith Stevenson.

Dexter, Missouri - Southwest Elementary honors Demi Richman, John Parker, Jozalen Shepherd, Mason Spencer, and Stella Fees with the Positive Office Referral certificate.

This award is presented to students who consistently show the 3R's RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and READY TO LEARN at Southwest Elementary in Dexter.

Demi Richman is in the kindergarten classroom of Mr. Eldreth. "Demi is a great kid and a good behavior example to her classmates.  She always shows the 3Rs."

John Parker is in the kindergarten classroom of Mrs. Chrisitan.  "John is always showing the 3Rs and continues to be a great role model and leader every day.  He is always helpful to others."

Jozalen Shepherd is in the kindergarten classroom of Mr. Eldreth.  "Jozalyn always shows the 3Rs and is a great positive behavior model for her peers."

Mason Spencer is in the kindergarten classroom of Mr. Eldreth.  "Mason is a great student and is a positive role model for his peers.  He is always showing the 3Rs."

Stella Fees is in the kindergarten classroom of Mrs. Christian.  "Stella is always showing the 3Rs and setting a great example every day!"

Shown in the photo are from left to right back row: Demi Richman, John Parker and Jozalyn Shepherd; front row: Mason Spencer and Stella Fees.

Bloomfield, Missouri - Students and staff at Bloomfield observed Make a Difference Day on May 23rd by performing a variety of civic projects in the community.  the day focused on providing service learning projects for students in the Bloomfield School District.

Toni Hill, Superintendent of Bloomfield School District, reached out to the community to identify service activities.  The students did a variety of activities from cleaning up the city park, and visiting the nursing home to picking up trash along Prairie Street as well as washed cars.  Students even cleaned out the school buses. They also got their hands dirty performing some landscaping at the local nursing home, Assembly of God Church, First Baptist Church and the Welcome to Bloomfield sign on Hwy 25.

Other students made decorations for the nursing home, played board games with the residents, made cards for the Children's Home, cleaned up the school campus, and made home-made dog treats for the animal shelter. 

"We, as a district, feel that it is important to teach our students to give without expecting anything in return.  The art of serving is a life lesson we want to instill in each of our students," commented Toni Hill.

Shown in the photo from left to right are Ethan Thatcher, History Teacher Taylor Fields, Shawn Robey, Nathan Thatcher, and Collin Wilson.

Dexter, Missouri - The Class of 2016 graduated on Friday, May 13th at the Bearcat Event Center marking the beginning of the next chapter for more than 130 students.

Dexter High School Choir sang, “Lean on Me” with several seniors performing solos.  They also sang “I’ll Always Remember You” both songs directed by Jamie Sepulvado.

Mitch Wood, Superintendent, introduced this years Salutatorian and Valedictorian.

Delaney Pullen was named the Class of 2016 Salutatorian with a GPA of 4.3402.  She is the daughter of Alex and Lori Pullen.

She opened her speech by thanking her amazing teachers that her class has had over the past thirteen years. 

“Without your help and guidance, or without you passing your knowledge to us we would not be where we are today.”  She also thanked her parents.

She mentioned that she did not get the opportunity to know each and every one of the graduating Class of 2016 and she regretted that; however some of them she knew too well. 

Delaney talked about how proud she was of living in such a small town of Dexter.  “I have realized just how proud I am to call this place home.  My hope for each of you is that you are able to recognize how lucky we all are to be Bearcats and to hold onto that wherever life takes you.  While you may never return to Dexter, I encourage you all to one day strive to give back in some way to the community that has given so much to each of us.”

“I do not think any of us are peaking tonight," Pullen continued." I believe each of us is destined to do something amazing and there are far greater things out there for us than what we are leaving behind.”

“We will take away the friendships and the memories that have made us who we are over the past 13 years.”

She ended her speech with a humorous comment,” God gave us all two ends – one to think with and the other to sit on.  Your success depends on which end you use more.  Heads you win and tails you lose!” 

Julia Hahn, who will attend the University of Alabama, was named the Class of 2016 Valedictorian. 

She graduated with a GPA of 4.4081 and is the daughter of Brad and Melissa Hahn of Dexter.  She plans to major in Chemical and Biological Engineering with a tract in Pre-Medicine.

Julie stated that the number one fear in America is public speaking and for working hard for four years to become Valedictorian she was forced to write a speech during finals week and speak in front of a few thousand people at her graduation. The audience and her classmates chuckled.

She thanked God for His endless love and the many blessings He has given her.  She thanked her classmate and friend Delaney on her excellent academic career and the countless hours she spent studying with her in Calculus.  She also thanked her teachers and her parents for their support and encouragement throughout the years.

Julia said, “If I could summarize this night in one quote, it would be ‘How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.’ Although saying goodbye is never easy, it is even more difficult when you must part ways with people you have spent your entire childhood and teenage years with.”

She noted that our community had experienced in the past couple of weeks a few tragedies and that your whole world can be turned upside down in the blink of an eye.  There will be times when you feel like you are at the top of the world and others when you feel like you have hit an all time low.  She then shared a few things she had learned in her 18 years on this earth.

1.    Live in the Moment – “Each day, each moment, each breath we take, is a gift that we must take advantage of so I challenge you to be spontaneous, live intentionally and with passion, try new things, and most importantly stop waiting for tomorrow. Infuse your life with action!”

2.    Don’t be a “kinda” Person – “If you “kinda” want something, then you will “kinda” get the results you want.  Don’t let your dreams hide away in your mind.  Commit to them with everything you have.”

3.    Be Somebody Who Makes Everybody Feel Like a Somebody – “Look around you.  Each person in this room is dealing with something you know absolutely nothing about.  Pave your own path, maintain relationships with others, and always, always be kind.  Let people know how much they are loved.  Give a voice to the voiceless, be an inspiration to those around you.  Remember where you came from and pay it forward.”

With those words of wisdom to the Class of 2016 and to the parents, grandparents, family and friends she asked each to join her in prayer to our Heavenly Father.

“Thank you for giving us lifelong friends and memories that we will cherish forever. Thank you for blessing us with such amazing teachers and parents who have supported us and prepared us for the next step in our lives.  We ask that you continue to guide us and look over us as we begin this new journey.  We know the road ahead is a challenging one, but, Lord, we trust the plans you have for us.  I ask these things in Jesus name, Amen.”

“I congratulate the Dexter High School Class of 2016 and wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors.”

Dan Pollock, Principal of Dexter High School asked as he read their name those students who were awarded scholarships to stand.  He also recognized those who were joining the military, Top 10% of the class, and the Dexter Honor Society members.

The Class of 2016 chose as their class color – platinum, their class song as “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd and their class motto as “If we cannot find the road to success.  We will make one!”  Student Body President was Kerigan Brady.

Rick Williams, President of the Dexter R-XI Board of Education, read the acceptance of the class and then presented the diplomas as each student walked across the stage to receive their diploma from Kevin Bishop.  Mitch Wood gave closing remarks.