FARMINGTON -- It's a ceremony steeped in tradition, and those in attendance to support and encourage 261 Farmington R-7 graduates of 2001 saw many of those traditions continue.

From "Pomp and Circumstance" to a candlelight ceremony and singing of the school song, the newest Farmington graduates were sent out into the world with many of the same events their parents saw as they completed their high school experience.

"It's a wonderful ceremony, and this year was no exception," Superintendent Dr. David Cramp said following the Sunday evening service. Cramp had the honor of presenting co-valedictorians this year, an unusual event for any school.

Brian Alan Dziewa and Kenneth Wayne Green tied for the title after three year's of exchanging high GPA totals. The two young men petitioned the school board of education earlier in the year to allow them the opportunity to share the valedictorian title.

Taking the request a step further, the two requested that neither ever be told who actually ranked highest. Grade point averages are weighted to a thousandth of a percent based on classes taken and student performance. Both students posed with Cramp after being bestowed the high ranking title.

Other highlights included the displaying of colors by the high school's Jr. ROTC program participants, and several performances by the band and choir.

Cramp said the event went exceptionally well with the students showing a lot of maturity in what can become a chaotic time of the year. Members of the class were ushered away after graduation to spend the night in a secure environment in St. Peters for Project Graduation.

Farmington graduates include:

Robert Danny Allen, Aaron Michael Armantrout, Jared R. Arnett, Ashley Aubuchon, Reanna Marie Ayers, Katarzyna Bak, Joshawa T. Baker, Julie Ann Ballard, Sarah N. Barber, Nikki A. Barker, Aaron M. Barlow, Kevin L. Barton, Tara Jo Battreal.

Will C. Beedie, Timothy A. Bene, Sarah L. Bloom, Charles L. Bochantin, Angela D. Bowyer, Kari S. Boyd, Lisa M. Boyd, Ryan Mathew Boyer, Tiffany Dawn Brake, David L. Brewer, Sherry Lynn Brewster, Corey Richard Brooks, Megan E. Bryant, Natalia Fabiano Bueno.

Jaime Lee Butler, Amanda E. Byington, Stephen Tracey Camden, Jessica Irene Cantrell, Charles R. Carleton, Richard D. Carroll, Gregory D. Chandler, Derek J. Charboneau, Jessica R. Cole, Jennifer I. Continc, Derek Dwayne Cook, Chris Copeland, Kayla Dawn Copeland.

Kimberly D. Copeland, Stephen W. Cox, Kent D. Crawford, Jennifer N. Crites, Bridget M. Davis, Kyle A. Davis, Nicholas Davis, Brittany H. DeBrusky, Sheldon M. Dement, Amanda Detring, Jason M. Detring, Justin Diaz, Jennifer M. Dickey, Catherine Ann Driemeier.

Benjamin M. Durbin, Chanel M. Duvall, Christopher Duvall, Brian Alan Dziewa, Craig Eck, Matthew Elder, Aimee N. Engler, Amanda K. Faenger, Christopher Farmer, Cassandra Farris, Justin Forsythe, Malachi Forsythe, Rebecca Ann Forsythe, Alesha Gibson.

Gina Gillespie, Tara Gillette, James Aaron Ginns, Sarah Goettelmann, Derek Gollaher, Christen Gosney, Kenneth Wayne Green, Eleanor Grix, Randy Grogan, Matthew Hale, Corey Hammers, Kevin Harris, Amy Hayman, Fabian Thomas Heck, Russell Wayne Helm.

Jacob W. Hendrix, Seth A. Hennrich, Damon Henson, James Dustin Henson, Alejandra Hernandez, Tara N. Hicks, Josh W. Hinkebein, Emily Anne Hoff, Leslie Hoffman, Justin Holmes, Benjamin James Honey, Davie D. Horn, Keisha L. Hovis, Bradley Hrouda, Elizabeth M. Huffman.

Shana L. Hull, Rachel Rene Hurtz, Cory D. Husher, Julie Ann Jarvis, Travis R. Johns, Alison Johnson, Mandy Michelle Johnson, Roger L. Johnson, Kelly Marie Johnston, Megan Rana Joyce, Zachary F. Kauflin, Laura Kelly, Austin Kile, Branden Killion, Christina A. Kleinsorge.

Eric Kofron, Maggie Jane Kollmeyer, Joshua L. Krause, Jovan Krstic, Jarid LaChance, Brian Curtis Lane, Aaron M. LaRose, Ronald Lashley, Ryan M. Lawson, Susan Nicole Lee, Rebecca K. Letang, Rachael D. Lewis, Richard William Lewis II, Christopher Lindsey, April D. Link.

Michael Lovvorn, Roger Marler, Kyle Marshall, Brandon Martin, Jakie Martin, Jessica Martin, Christina Mattingly, Angela McClure, Kara McDowell, John McIntosh, Richard Jemark McIntyre, Sarah Meador, Stacy Lynn Mell, Douglas Melvin, Marcus Mesey.

Jacob Midkiff, Hannah Rebeccah Mihlfeld, Aaron F. Miller, David Lyn Miller, Derek James Miller, Eric Stephen Miller, Kristin Miller, Zachary Miller, Michael Minghi, Casandra Moore, April Dawn Morrison, Michael Christopher Mossy, Russell Dale Mullinax.

Ryan Sterling Mullins, Jerry W. Myers, Seth Myers, Elizabeth Dawn Nabors, Anastasia E. Orzel, Tessa Pacilli, Myrella Adeline Parente, Darin Pearson, Dustin Peters, Robert W. Petti, Krista M. Pettus, Megan L. Pinkston, Daniel Pogue, Jason W. Politte, Alisha Pothetos.

Michael E. Powers, David Ralph Pyatt, Jessica Qualls, Arron M. Radford, Sarah Radford, Andrew R. Rains, Derek Ratliff, Garry L. Redmond, Robert Michael Reeder, Agnis Retenais, Robert J. Rios, Katie Sue Roark, Kelly Ann Roark, Justin Roussin, Justin Royer.

Amber Saltzman, Joshua Sanders, Maria Louise Scanga, Brandi J. Schimweg, Lindy S. Schubert, Jennifer Marie Scott, Zachary Scott, Christina Sertl, Kimberly Sessoms, Bradley Abraham Shelton, Melvin Ballard Shumway, Anthony Walker Simmons, Ronald Cleo Slade.

Dawn Smallen, Michael S. Smith, Tammie Michelle Smith, Elisha Stacy, Myranda Starkey, Ashley E. Stevens, Rhonda L. Storie, Molly R. Summers, Timothy Dewayne Tabor Jr., Tracy C. Taylor, Christy Dawn Tedder, Jacob Thompson, Travis Todd, Matthew Ryan Treaster.

Travis Sean Trolinger, Douglas Alan Wade, Matthew Doyle Wallace, Misty Dawn Wampler, Thomas Ward, Andrew Warden, Mary Watson, Kimberly Ann Weast, Amanda Webb, Tara Mae White, Tiffany White, Matthew Wichman, Tonya Wilkerson, Henry Williams.

Walker Williamson, Julia Marie Willis, Amanda Wills, William Curtis Wilson, Elizabeth Wolo, Shelley M. Womack, Brandy N. Worley, Rebecca L. Wright, Perry J. Yeager, Brandon Yeats, Becky Erin Yount.

First semester graduates: Tonya Amsden, Jennifer Renee Cook, Mirranda Douglas, Amanda Fisher, John Dee, Rhea Hall, Natalie Helvey, Jessica Herbst, Jodi Hommelson, Natalia Kevorkova, Meghann Loughary, Carl Lynn Mayberry, Kristina L. Ragan, John Ryan Rainbolt, Lisa R. Roth, Jacob D. Thomure, Donald W. Williamson, Kelly A. Young.