Dare, Spencer lead Class of 2020

For the Poplar Bluff valedictorian and salutatorian, having graduation is a positive after concerns they wouldn’t be able to with COVID-19.

Graduation will be held Tuesday at the Black River Coliseum. Admission is by ticket only, but the ceremony will be broadcast on the school’s Facebook page at 7 p.m.

Salutatorian Emily Spencer said it felt as though they never received closure for the school year since it was cut short.

Salutatorian Emily SpencerPhoto provided

“I feel like since we didn’t know that was our last day, I guess we didn’t get proper closure from high school,” she said. “We didn’t get our week off early and we missed spring sports, stuff like that. I just really can’t grasp the reality that it’s actually over … (having graduation) it’ll finally seal the deal and maybe give it a real sense of closure.”

Valedictorian Ross Dare said it feels great to have graduation and be in the top of the class. Dare said he earned an 11.71 grade point average on a 12 point scale.

“Just being able to have graduation in the first place, because we thought it wouldn’t be able to happen,” he said. “But being valedictorian is just amazing. It’s something I’ve been working for my entire life.”

Dare served on student council, took part in choir, ran cross country and was a member of BETA Club, academic team, math club and National Honor Society.

He will start college at the University of Missouri - Kansas City in fall since it has a six-year medical school program. 

“So, I’m going to have a ton of tough courses being thrown at me,” he said. “That’s something on top of already moving to a new city and having all of that new adjustment and stuff. I’m kind of nervous, but also I know it’s going to be good for me.”

Dare said his message to his fellow students is to live by the quote “A little bit of kindness can go a long way.”

“As they’re going into their future, it’s good to utilize kindness instead of hate or violence or all these other things when they’re resorting to arguments and things like that,” he said.

He also advised they apply themselves to whatever they plan to do next with their lives.

“If they didn’t try in high school, then maybe they could take a step further and just challenge themselves,” he said.

Spencer said her graduation speech is about the lessons she learned in high school and how little things can affect people in unique ways.

“Like the little actions that my teachers took showed me these different values that I’ll take with me and other people to take with them,” she said.

Spencer plans to study criminal justice at Missouri State University after high school.

She played volleyball and soccer during high school, and was a member of the Future Farmers of America, BETA Club, academic club and National Honor Society.

Spencer also earned a 11.612 grade point average, she said.

“Usually people will take it easy their senior year, but I took really difficult classes,” she said. “It feels nice for that to pay off in amazing ways. I know the race between me and the person that’s third was really, really close.”

Spencer said she’s received her roommate assignment for college and is remaining hopeful for her first year.

“I’m planning to join a couple clubs regarding the major I’m pursuing and hopefully I’ll make some friends there,” she said.