MHS celebrates fall academics
TOM PINNEY/DAILY FORUM
Spoofhound’s return Maryville High School alumnus Craig Powell (’95) addresses students in the Lee and Nina Schneider Center for the Performing Arts during the annual fall academic awards ceremony Wednesday morning. Powell’s theme of “play hard and take risks” celebrated the school’s culture of achievement.
Wednesday’s fall awards assembly at Maryville High School centered on MHS’ winning culture and very much centered on student success.
At 9 a.m. in the new Lee and Nina Schneider Center for the Performing Arts, the student body and many members of the community gathered to celebrate academic milestones achieved during the first term of the 2016-2017 school year.
Craig Powell, class of 1995, served as the keynote speaker.
“Powell was a decorated wrestler and competitor in speech and debate, and embodied their idea of putting education before athletics and extra-curricular activities,” Principal Thom Alvarez said. “He just seemed like the perfect fit for our keynote address.”
The cornerstone of Powell’s speech was his mother’s mantra as he and his brothers left for school each morning.
“My mom started every day by telling us all to ‘play hard and take risks,’” Powell said. “Basically, you have to show up and show up with enthusiasm, so that’s what we did.
“That’s how I lived my life. My parents gave me a good home and a good upbringing, so I was determined to ‘bring the juice’ and work hard to achieve.”
Powell said his outlook on life changed when he completed his sophomore year and was selected to represent Missouri at the national Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference.
“The people I met while I was there made me learn that the people in this country are largely the same,” Powell said. “They’re hard workers, just like I was.
“When I came back for my last two years of high school, I took those lessons and tools with me to help me maximize my skills in school.”
Powell discussed his journey through the rest of his high school career as well as life after graduation.
From Maryville, Powell went on to complete an extra year of high school at Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey, where he trained with one the best high school wrestling coach in the country in hopes of gaining admission to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and making the wrestling team there.
After injuring his shoulder and failing a physical during West Point’s rivalry day, Powell went to Brown University, where he said he “didn’t sit in a class I didn’t choose to take.”
While he was serving an internship in Chicago between his sophomore and junior years, he learned another valuable lesson.
“My dad tried to convince me that the internship would be a bad idea, and it started to get to me and cause me to question whether it was a bad idea,” Powell said. “So I asked myself, if I don’t bet on myself, who will?”
Powell also got a chance to show off his roots.
“At one point I was overpaid, and when I noticed it, I went and reported it to my superiors right away,” Powell said. “They didn’t even notice it, either; it was a $6 million company.
“But they knew who I was and what I stood for. They knew that, in the dark moments, I pull out my Maryville roots and show who I really am.”
After graduating from college, Powell’s job search provided his fourth and final game-changing life lesson.
“I botched the second interview (with Credit Suisse First Boston) completely because I tried to double multiply and got the answer wrong, several times,” Powell said. “I went into the third interview and thought, I’m not going to get the job anyway, so I’m just going to (expletive) with them.
“After I accepted a position at Merrill Lynch, I got a call from CSFB saying I had gotten the job. I tracked down the guy from the second interview and asked why, and he said that it was all about how I responded to the mistakes I made — I got more comfortable.”
The job offer led to a paid year off as the industry took a sharp downturn in the early 2000s. During that year, Powell had the idea that would jumpstart his career.
Powell had a hand in developing ConnectEDU, a program that connects students around the country with top-notch colleges and universities online.
Powell and many of his colleagues left the company in 2013 due to a dispute with investors. He now serves as the director, president, and CEO of Boston-based Motus, a mobile enterprise program that, according to its website, “provides the most accurate mileage receipt.”
During the awards ceremony, Alvarez and counselor Becky Houtchens handed out the American Association of University Women Leadership Award. The award is given by the local chapter of AAUW to a female high school student who displays leadership in her activities and community.
This year, the award was given to junior Delanie Vinzant.
“I felt honored to be recognized because college has been a goal of mine since I was basically two years old,” Vinzant said. “The award reinforces my desire to go.”
Vinzant is active in the Octagon Club, serves on the Student Activities Committee for Upward Bound, and is a decorated speech and debate competitor. She said being recognized with the Leadership Award was a pleasant separation from the norm.
“I’m usually recognized for my academics, so it’s nice to be recognized for my leadership,” Vinzant said.
In order to qualify for the award, Vinzant had to submit two letters of recommendation, write an essay, and answer several questions about her leadership roles and extracurricular involvement. AAUW member Sharon Conrad-Neustadter said the essay in particular blew her away.
“The fact that (Viinzant) knew what she wanted showed that she had so much focus for someone so young,” Conrad-Neustadter said. “She’s only a junior, and she knew exactly where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do.
“Her leadership skills were remarkable, and her scholarship is amazing. She was the perfect candidate for the award.”
The ceremony then moved to the school’s nominee for the Missouri Scholars Academy, which takes place at the University of Missouri-Columbia from July 11-30. Students are nominated for the Missouri Scholars Academy by their teachers and counselors, who together make the final decision on who the school will nominate for the program.
This year’s nominee is sophomore Justus Voss.
“It’s a really big honor, the top .5 percent in each sophomore class are nominated but not many of them get the opportunity to go,” Voss said. “But thanks to our great board of education, who is paying for me to go, I get to attend the academy.
“I’m most excited for the opportunity to meet people who are like-minded in how they look at school. It sounds like a lot of fun.”
During the ceremony, the Maryville High School drama club presented a skit in three acts, putting the year 2016 on trial as “the worst year ever.” In the end, 2016 was found guilty and sentenced to 365 days of community service with the year 1999.
The Spectrum show choir closed out the show, performing their competition routine, “I Love Rock and Roll.” The homage to classic rock of the 1980s included hits like “Just Like Paradise” by David Lee Roth, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar, and “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi.
In closing, Alvarez channeled Albus Dumbledore from “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”
“‘It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities,’” Alvarez quoted. “We have to make the choice to maximize our abilities.”
Academic Award Winners
Perfect Attendance:
Seniors Brady Archer, Alex Bean, Jansen Bundridge, Jackson Golightly, Abbie Greeley, Elijah Green, Maggie Kempf, Spenser Morrison, Bethel Orshiso and Tierry Wilmes.
Juniors Jenny Ahlgrimm, Amberlea Auffert, Mady Neff, Brianna Rodrick, Jalen Sundell and Cassie Wilkymacky.
Sophomores Kamryn Gastler, Alex Gotszling, Ashlyn Laffey, Shane Law, Hayden Mildward, Trevor Rickabaugh, Aleyna Saldana, Collin Sullivan, Trevor Townsend and Braxton Yount.
Freshmen Brandon Auffert, Maggie Calfee, Carter Christensen, Andrew Clifford, Jaren Golightly, Owen Graham, Tallon Noland, Molly Renshaw, Chase Sims, Krista Staples, Stanley Waldeier, Kennedy Walker and Grace White.
The 30 Club: ACT composite score of 30 or higher
Jacob Search, Chad Sullivan, Delanie Vinzant, Ethan Voss, Caleb Feuerbacher, Ethan Hung, Bethel Orshiso, Zach Springer, Matt Twaddle, and Justus Voss.
Bronze Certificate Honor Roll: 3.2-3.69 GPA
Seniors Robert Bruckner, Haley Coleman, Alias Cullin, Emily Degase, Christina Derks, Cayden Dunbar, Jacob Emery, MacKenzie Evans, Cyrus Giesken, Frederic Goudge, Elijah Green, Benjamin Hargrave, Christian Hostetler, Terner Maranville, Logan Nelson, Hope Ozanne, Christopher Paris, Garret Parker, Cole Phillips, PJ Porter, Faith Ross, Dominick Snow, Chase Staples, MacKenzie Sunderman, Anna Swink, Hannah Townsend, Tucker Tripp, Halea VanGundy and Briley Wilmes.
Juniors Haley Akins, Kendrick Calfee, Grant Collins, Nicholas Dredge, Drew Farrell, Hannah Maass, Michael Mullins, Rylie Mundorf, Charlie Patterson, Bethney Pedersen, Garrett Pistole, Kalvin Rawson, Brianna Rodrick, Jackson Sanders, Lacy Schrock, Jessica Sheil, Brody Snow, Sachary Staples, Derek Volner, William Walker, Alexis West, and Jordan Wiederholt.
Sophomores Timberley Armstrong, Caden Bailey, Adam Becker, Zachary Bonde, Dylan Catlett, Thomas DiStefano, Peyton Frueh, William Frueh, Morgan Goodridge, Cade Gustafson, Coby Hersh, Jacklyn Hersh, Ethan Hung, Aubrey Jones, Elijah Katsion, Shane Law, Carleigh Losh, Matthew Madden, Alex McMahon, Ashlyn Oltman, Jillian Partridge, Evan Pierson, Trevor Rickabaugh, Braiden Sells, Collin Sullivan, Summer Swalley, Lane Tobin, Trevor Townsend, Brenden Ware, Hailey Weland, Skiler Williams, and Caleb Yarnell.
Freshmen Tameyra Armstrong, LeNexa Bennett, Jackson Bram, Margaret Calfee, Kelby Derr, Amber Ebrecht, Ethan Elston, Savannah Erickson, Amy Feuerbacher, Laura Feuerbacher, Amelia Haile, Jaden Hayes, Emily Long, Kenzie Martin, Jessica Mires, Jenna Moore, Hadley Mundorf, Tate Oglesby, Carson Pistole, Carter Reeves, Brylie Rodrick, Whitney Shurvington, Chase Sims, Elizabeth Stephenson, Stanley Waldeier and Wyatt Walker.
Silver Certificate Honor Roll: 3.7-3.99 GPA
Seniors Brady Archer, Shabria Barnum, Connor Chubick, Blake Clements, Tomas Coalson, Tilena Conover, Brianna Davenport, Emily Gascoigne, Jackson Golightly, Chase Graves, Jakob Gray, Paige Heitman, Matthew Henggeler, Alexei Holder, Trey Hoover, Tyson Jackson, Hunter Jewett, Caleb Liles, Alyssa Lowe, Lauren Macali, Jessi Madden, Spencer Morrison, Trey Oglesby, Ryan Owens, Kiley Proffit, Ryan Puche, Dylan Saldana, Bethany Schenkel, Christopher Shaw, Felicia Sheil, Garret Sparks, Kaylie Spire, Zachariah Springer, Kory Stuart, Leticia Tate, Abrianna Throm, Mollie Von Behren, Jason White, Claire White and Meghan Yarnell.
Juniors Jesse Aley, William Andel, McKenzie Beck, Reece Bickford, Sara Cacabelos, Hannah Carroll, Sasinapha Choonhachai, Sydney Conley, Dustin Conover, Dorothy Hardin, Chance Hermelink, Jonathan Holtman, Tara Hull, Lucas Jasinski, Leah Maass, Makaylah Merrill-Jones, Erik Meyer, Rebecca Meyers, Taybrin Oglesby, Harrison Parkhurst, Tristen Saxton, Derrick Shields, Jalen Sundell, Cassie Wilkymacky, Jakob Woods and Katielynn Wooten.
Sophomores Gage Albrecht, Cayren Barnett, Skylar Bundridge, Cailee Burg, Michelle Chen, Connor Durbin, Juliann Ellis, Kamryn Gastler, Alex Gotszling, Olivia Goudge, Hannah Hawthorne, Benjamin Holtman, Vanessa Klotz, Ashlyn Laffey, Joseph Marez, Will Mattock, Hayden Mildward, Caroline Morley, Ben Orshiso, Aleyna Saldana, Justus Voss, Mason Walk and Madeline Wiedmaier.
Freshmen Briahna Alonso, Caitlyn Burke, Jessica Finch, Natalie Gallaher, Jaren Golightly, Laney Graham, Owen Graham, Riley Gray, Jase Haer, Addison Hall, Ryan Haughey, Stephanie Ingram, Payton Johnson, Lauren Liberty, Xinyu Liu, Cloie Murrell, Connor Nielson, Morgan Pettlon, Josie Pitts, Molly Renshaw, Sadie Schafer, Kaia Teale, Brooke Twaddle, Kennedy Walker and Grace White.
Gold Certificate Honor Roll: 4.0 GPA
Seniors Colin Arnold, Alex Bean, Hailee Beemer, Jansen Bundridge, Jennifer Cacek, Makenna Coon, Keith Doolin, Maria Filopoulou Amanda Frueh, Vyron Galapin, Alex Gardner, Abbie Greeley, Maggie Kempf, Luca Mattiussi Bethel Orshiso, Corby Roush, Joshua Sanders, Blake Schreck, Halley Sims, Katlyn Striplin, Kailee Swalley, Matthew Twaddle, Ethan Voss, Bailey White, Sarah White, Brooklynn Williams, Mackenzie Wilmes, and John Zimmerman.
Juniors Jenny Ahlgrimm, Amberlea Auffert, Andaya Backman, Patrick Baker, Grant Cassavaugh, Gretchen Euler, Caleb Feuerbacher, Elizabeth Goecken, Madison Holtman, Annika Johnson, Peter Kempf, Alex Lewis, Abigail Loe, Lydia Mitchell, Madyson Neff, Elis Ounapuu, Zachary Patton, Abigail Pitts, Jacob Reuter, Jacob Search, Chad Sullivan, Quentin Ternus, Delanie Vinzant, Shelby Wolters and Tina Ye.
Sophomores Tyson Arnold, Kaylin Byland, Trinity Cobb, Kylee Dougan, Austin Drake, Katie Gardner, Chase Newberry, Sarah Richardson, Creid Stoecklein and Katie Yocom.
Freshmen Madilyn Pritzel and Ethan Stone.
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The 30 Club Members of the 30 Club stand on the stage to be recognized. The 30 Club is reserved for students who earn a score of 30 or higher on their ACT. Pictured are, from left: Caleb Feuerbacher, Chad Sullivan, Ethan Voss, Delanie Vinzant, Jacob Search, Bethel Orshiso, Justus Voss, Zach Springer, and Matt Twaddle. Not pictured: Ethan Hung
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AAUW Leadership Award Winner Counselor Becky Houtchens awards Delanie Vinzant with the American Association of University Women Leadership Award. Vinzant, a junior, is involved with Upward Bound, Octagon Club, HOSA, and the Speech and Debate team.
TOM PINNEY/DAILY FORUM
Missouri Scholars Academy nominee Counselor Becky Houtchens awards sophomore Justus Voss with a certificate recognizing the fact that he was nominated to represent Maryville High School at the Missouri Scholars Academy. The program takes place July 11-30 at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
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Bringing a character witness Defense attorney Frederic Goudge (right) prepares his questions for his character witness, the year 2007 (played by Emily Gascoigne, seated). Trying to prove that 2016 wasn’t that bad of a year, Goudge used the friendship between 2007 and 2016 to show that 2016 had good qualities.
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“Exhibit B: Harambe.” Prosecuting attorney Hannah Townsend (standing, left) explains that the death of Harambe, a silver-backed gorilla famously killed in a Cincinnati Zoo after a child fell into his enclosure, sparked an onslaught of memes. Townsend said this was more than enough to mark 2016 as the worst year ever.
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“Nothin’ but a good time!” Spectrum poses after the end of their first number. The show choir performed their competitive set, an homage to classic rock from the 1980s, to wrap the ceremony.