Twin Rivers graduates told to be a positive influence on others

“When I wake up tomorrow, I will feel like this was a dream,” Jessica Stevenson said following the tossing of her cap in the air.

She and 53 of her classmates will wake up as Twin Rivers High School graduates.

“It’s weird,” she said. “It doesn’t seem real now.”

Like most of the Class of 2019, Stevenson said she was both nervous and excited leading up to her graduation ceremony Sunday afternoon.

While her own son graduated last year, Youth Pastor Stephanie Epstein attended the graduation ceremony in support of two of her students.

“I’m so proud of Noah (Smothers) and Raven (King) and happy to see them make it,” she said. “I had no doubt they would.”

Being the two students’ youth pastor, Epstein said she offered advice to the new graduates ahead of their big day.

“God fills the plans he has for you and you can do everything through Christ,” she said.

While talking with Smothers and King’s parents, Epstein said she had a similar feeling to her own son’s graduation the previous year.

“I feel like it’s one of my own,” she said Sunday afternoon.

Smothers’ parents, Eric and Shelia, said they could not be more proud of their son.

“He has a bright future,” Eric said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him further his education at a college in Utah studying IT.”

Dalton Leone holds his 2-year-old cousin, Lincoln Phillips prior to the graduation ceremony.DAR/Paul Davis

Hunter Gillean and Carson Snider visited with two of Twin Rivers’ newest graduates, Dalton Leone and Brady Leutert.

As a junior at Twin Rivers, Snider said he was sad to see two of his friends leaving.

“It’s going to be different not seeing everyone at school each day,” Leone said. “It’s kind of sad.”

Leutert was still feeling the excitement of the day and said he had been waiting his whole life for this moment.

Having already entered the real world of adulthood, Gillean had a little piece of advice for his two friends.

“Get ready for life,” he said.

Valedictorian Blake Bleem offered his fellow classmates tips on how to be successful and happy. While not an expert in the area, he said he did some investigating.

“Live the life you want to live and don’t let others tell you otherwise,” he said.

The first step to chasing your dreams, Bleem shared, is to get up, start walking and then running.

“The only thing ever stopping you is yourself,” he said.

Co-salutatorian Hannah Burke compared high school to something every teenager can relate to.

“High school is like a box of pizza,” she said.

Freshman year is like the crust where students get all the basics and figure out high school.

“Sophomore year is where you get a little saucy,” she said. “You get a little more attitude because you’re not a little freshman and you have more experience.”

Junior year is like the cheese and all the knowledge from the past years sets in.

“Senior year is when you add all the toppings,” Burke said. “You get to do all the fun things with your friends and add flavor to your high school experience.”

While this comparison sounded “super cheesy,” Burke said it was completely true because the four years spent in high school were meant to put all the student’s ingredients together so the end product is outstanding.

“Graduation day is the time to put our pizza in the oven,” she added. “Fifty-four pieces will separate and go on our own adventure and make our pizza the recipe everyone wants.”

Co-salutatorian Joseph Wright said all he thought about heading into graduation day was the people who changed his life.

He thanked God, his teachers, parents, grandparents and extended family, the Class of 2019 and his three best friends; his sisters.

“Everyone here has their own story to tell,” Wright said. “No matter what you do in the future or what path you choose, we will always have the opportunity to be a positive influence to others.”

Twin Rivers High School's Class of 2019 celebrates its graduation as they throw their caps at the conclusion of Sunday's ceremony.DAR/Paul Davis

According to College & Career Counselor/A+ Coordinator Anna Whitlow, 31 students completed the A+ program.

The Steve Scott Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Brandon Cotner; the Qulin Lions Club Scholarship went to Hayden Thomas; and Kaitlyn LaChance was awarded the Poplar Bluff Fine Arts Club Scholarship.

The class of 2019 racked up $865,876 in scholarship money.

Whitlow also reported 12 students planned to attend universities upon graduation, 27 will enroll in community college or technical programs and 14 will be seeking full-time employment.

Now that graduation has come and gone, Wanda Pearson said she was relieved.

“The day was more emotional than I thought,” she said. “I’m not really a crier and I started to tear up.”