Graduates leave with 200 dreams
North County seniors have plans following high school
By T.Ressel/Daily Journal Staff Writer

Valedictorian Luke Elders and Salutorian Nathan Yount

Yesterday, they were one class who shared a common goal of graduating from North County. Tomorrow, they will be pursuing their dreams separately.

On Friday night, 200 students graduated from North County High School. They are 200 graduates with 200 dreams.

Valedictorian, Luke Elders will go to Washington University where he wants to play basketball. He also plans to go to law school.

Salutatorian, Nathan Yount will go to the Honor’s College at Mizzou. He’s thinking about majoring in political science.

Rebekah Schaeffler wants to make it big in Nashville. Her plans are to go to a college there.

“I’m not going to get famous staying around here,” Schaeffler said. She’s been singing since she was a young child. She has sung in North County musicals and the choir.

Lindsay Petty and her best friend, Laura Pigg, both plan to attend the St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

Cory Claywell unzips his graduation gown to show his NC Raiders tie.

Cory Claywell, who had been student council president, plans to play golf for Webster University and then work for the government.

Stephanie Shanks, who had been class president, wants to be like Mrs. McIntyre. She wants to be a chemistry teacher. She plans to attend Mineral Area College and then Southeast Missouri State University.

“All my science teachers were the greatest,” she said.

Amber Eckhoff is “undecided” while her best friend, Amber Clayton, wants to pursue a career in Orthodontics.

Jason Winckel has big plans to play for Cornell University.

Laura Naused already has her Associate’s Degree from MAC and wants to be a mechanic.

Superintendent Yancy Poorman said he remembers graduating and feeling like the world would finally treat him as an adult.

He said for those who are going to start jobs, they have graduated to the level of “rookie.” Those who are going to college will be freshmen.

He said those who are undecided have learned enough in four years of high school “to be totally confused.”

However, Poorman said the students should take pride in what they have accomplished, who they are and where they are from. He hopes that North County gave them a strong foundation to build from.

During Principal Ron McCutchen’s speech, he recognized Elders for being one of Missouri’s top 100 scholars; Rachel Evans for being the Southeast Missouri Tech Prep Student of the Year; and Naused for getting her Associate’s Degree. He recognized those students who have already enlisted in the military: Aron Farmer, Brittney Merseal, Nathan Yarbrough, Matt Edwards and DJ Moder.

He asked students to remember Brandon “New York” Gaines. An empty chair with Brandon’s cap and gown and a picture of him was set aside at the graduation. He died May 7, 2005, after an asthma attack. McCutchen presented his mother with Brandon’s diploma.

During his speech, Elders shared a few of his memories with students and then encouraged the students to learn from the obstacles they will face. He ended his speech with a prayer, thanking and asking God for guidance for the class.

Yount encouraged his classmates to use this new stage of life to become what they want to be. He said don’t just be who you have always been, but be the best you can be.

The top 10 seniors were Elders, Yount, Cory Schmidt, Kelli Forde, Pigg, Todd Renshaw, Ashley Turnbaugh, Bryan Howard, Emily Layden and Caleb Barron.

The graduates are: Kelcey Lynn Acton, Ashley Danielle Agnew, Brandon Douglas Anderson, Derek Michael Archer, Amanda Lynn Arnold, Damion Alexander Asher, Levi Richard Bailey, Matthew Christopher Ballard, Ashton Rae Barbee, Caleb Tyler Barron, Kimberly Ann Barron, April Jean Barton, Cyrielle Gertrude Bedu, Tyler Jordan Beers, Samantha Lynn Bergner, Leslie Brooke Bishop, Amber Nicole Black, Zachary Austin Black, Aaron Paull Blunt, Taylor Lynn Blunt, Erica Michelle Bockenkamp, Kyle Robert Boring, Lucas Todd Boyer, Stephanie Kay Braun, Emily Denise Brinkman, Richard Lee Brockland, Tiffany Michelle Brown, Jessie Irene Brundage, Stephen Glen Buckman, Thomas Alan Burgan, Lindsey Rachelle Byers, Tara Carlota Calonge, Kyle Troy Campanelli, Caitlin Renee Carrow, Joshua Eugene Clark, Amber Nicole Clayton, Cory Allen Claywell, Cody William Coale, Adrian Shane Cookson, Kelleeta Nickole Corssen, Daniel Aaron Coulter, Nicholas Sean Counts, Amanda Lynn Crocker, Brandice Matesse Curdt, Michael Scott Dickey, Heather Jo Dixon, Cameron Thomas Dugger, Amber Marie Eckhoff, Matthew Thomas Edwards, Luke Frederick Elders, Adam Cory Essmyer, Rachel Faye Evans, Nathaniel Edward Faenger, Aron William Farmer, Kelli Dawn Forde, Gabriel Michael Frank, Nicholas Alan Fulton, Chelsea Rae Gainer, Garrett Lane Gaston, Jennifer Marie Gibbs, Matthew Alex Gilbert, Samantha Lee Goesmann, Matthew Vincent Goff, Mark Allen Graczyk, Danielle Grace Green, Gary Gene Greer III, Erin Rene Gremminger, Megan Elizabeth Guyan, Samantha Jean Hahn, Niles Roger Halper, Kimberly Jane Sue Hamor, Amanda Lacolle Hampton, David James Hansel, Benjamin Linn Harris, Jessica Anna Harris, Joshua Stephen Harrison, Patricia Sue Hartrup, Megan Lea Hedgcorth, Patrick Allen Samuel Helm III, Briana Renee Henson, Matthew John Henson, Andrea Lynn Hinch, Britney Lynn Hodgkins, Natosha Marie Holmes, Britany Ann Horn, Bryan Scott Howard, Joshua Michael Jaco, Andrew Earl Johnston, Brianna Marie Kelley, Cory Joseph Keller, Kori Jo Keller, Lauren Ashley Kenuam, Jason Clay King, Amanda Nicole Kinsey, Brittany Lea Kirkpatrick, Emily Dianne Knox, Ga’bor Istva’n Korso’s, Emily Maureen Layden, Kyle Brandon Lehman, Elizabeth Renee Link, Jason Robert Link, Mallory Ann Longhibler, Michael Keith Loraine, Jacob Alphonse Lyons, Nicholas Ray Marler, Deanna Nicole Martin, Sasha Lynna McCarver, Joshua David McMillan, Jonathan Charles McNew, Amanda Renee Melson, Brittany Gail Merseal, Kristen Elizabeth Meyers, Nathan Brooke Miller, Brandee Lynne Mitchell, Dennis Michael Moder, Brett Anthony Montgomery, Stephen Dwayne Moore, Chad Allen Moss, Miranda Lea Moss, Destin Michael Mouser, Lynsey Marie Moxley, Laura Faye Naused, Bradley James Neubrand, Travis Neil Newkirk, Matthew Douglas Nowicki, Dexter Oates, Michael Davis OBrien, Douglas Wayne Oder, Jamie Lynn Penfield, Kyle Stephen Perry, Lindsay Elizabeth Petty, Brittany Victoria Phegley, Bianca Marie Pica, Laura Ann Pigg, Kadie Elizabeth Pilliard, Danielle Nicole Poole, Michael Stephen Poole, Amy Lorane Pope, Mitchell Joseph Price, Hali Rene Prosser, DeAnna Marie Pryor, Charles Robert Quevreaux, Valerie Lynn Raglin, Jerrod William Ragsdale, Clyde Allen Rawson Jr, Todd Garrett Renshaw, Ryan Lynn Richey, Kyle Timothy Richter, Tyler William Roberson, Justin Dean Robinson, Jeremiah Levi Robison, Philip Michael Robison, Eve Renee Rose, Amanda Jean Rouggly, Tiffany Ann Russell, Rebekah Ann Schaeffler, Cory Andrew Schmidt, Samantha Marie Schmitt, Axel Schaefer, Stephanie Theresa Shanks, Christopher Alan Short, Braden Robert Ross Skaggs, Jason Robert Skiles, Brett Thomas Snead, Rusty Christopher Soden, Natalie Nicole Sorbello, Jeremy David Spelman, Tarah Joy Stabenow, Misty Dawn Starbird, Kacie Ellen Steele, Jonathan Willis Stokes, Alicia Marie Stolle, Kevin Andrew Tesreau, Kyle Justin Thebeau, Emily Nicole Thompson, Regina Lynn Tillman, Ashley Lynee Turnbaugh, Kory Evan Turner, Taryn Sheree Urich, Megan Nicole Vaughn, Stephanie Marie Waeltermann, Brittney May Walling, Kelley Marie Wallis, Heather Renee Wampler, Keith John Watson, April Louise Welch, Corey Adam Wells, Thomas Glenn Whaley, Chelsea Lenee Whitwell, Sharon Kathleen Wigger, Trisha Anne Williams, Jason Michael Winckel, Christy Jean Winters, Sally Ann Wolfe, Dawn Marie Woodruff, Nathan Lee Yarbrough, Amina Yezza, Jillian Noel Yoder, Nathan Joshua Yount, Fritz Zalamans.