Poplar Bluff High School graduated 371 seniors Thursday, May 26, making the Class of 2022 the sixth largest in school history. They were also the first class in 20 years to have two valedictorians, and they collectively earned over $2 million in scholarships.
In the words of Class President Rhylee Sprague, “We’re graduating. Now, I would like to be the first one to say I am so proud of you guys.”
Students had many motivations for finishing strong.
Some were driven by their goals, like Robert Barbour III, who looks forward to traveling the world with the U.S. Marines.
For others, it was the support of loved ones. The family of Micah Alexander expressed their pride with balloons and cheers as he crossed the stage.
“We’re very happy, proud and excited for the graduates,” said his mother Kashina.
And a few, like Selina Pociak, celebrated while remembering family lost or far away. Pociak decorated her cap with the American and Mexican flags, and the words “I did this for you” in honor of her Mexican family and her father, who was deported when she was young and passed away a couple years ago.
“When I said ‘I did this for you,’ it’s for my family who lives in Mexico,” she said.
Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill congratulated the Class of 2022 on “15 years of hard work, sacrifice and dedication” leading up to their last moments as high schoolers.
“Tonight, as we write the final words, the final chapter of this part of your story, please know you are taking your first steps into a much, much larger world,” he said. “No matter where you go with this larger world, you will be a member of our school family.”
He also recognized PBHS staff and thanked them for keeping the doors open during a uniquely challenging year.
“Without these dedicated individuals, I don’t know how we would do it,” he said.
Sherry Phelan, dean of instruction and chief academic officer at Three Rivers College, presented diplomas to College Now program graduates Collin Glick, Alexis Keirsey, Carson Nagy and Emma Eubank. These students earned associate degrees from TRC as well as their high school diplomas.
“It is a significant achievement to earn a high school diploma and a college degree while still in high school,” said Phelan.
Graduates then heard words of wisdom from those at the top of their class: Salutatorian Ella Zgaynor, Valedictorian Brileigh Cates and Valedictorian Emma Sutton — the latter two being the first students in decades to tie for the honor.
Zgaynor encouraged her fellow graduates to take advantage of every moment they have and achieve their dreams.
“Throughout my career as a Poplar Bluff Mule, I have realized that life is so very precious. There is no room for us to waste any of the time we have here on Earth. So I encourage you to make the very most of the time you have here,” she said.
She credited her loved ones for helping her achieve academic success.
“Thank you to my family and friends. You all have been my constant support system. I am forever grateful for everything you have done for me,” said Zgaynor.
Cates shared the struggles of growing up in a dysfunctional family and losing her hearing due to a health condition. She did not want to garner sympathy but to inspire others, she said, urging her fellow students to “smell the flowers” in their lives and understand what kind of people they hope to become.
“Do not let a failure, a mistake, a disability or any other obstacle halt your goals. Embrace hard things just as often as you embrace easy things, because — while the latter makes it much easier to smell flowers — the hard parts encourage you to find the flowers that you appreciate the most,” Cates said.
Sutton told her classmates she was grateful for her PBHS experience and gave special thanks to her family, friends and school staff for their support. She then tied graduation to the poem “O me, O life,” by Walt Whitman, wherein Whitman asks the reader what good can come from the world when it seems like a sad and selfish place, then turns the answer back upon them by reminding them of their chance to “contribute a verse” to the play of life.
“You are given life, you have identity, and every single one of you has a purpose. But now to quote John Keating from ‘Dead Poets Society,’ ‘What will your verse be?’” Sutton said. “Find your verse. Find out what it is you want to contribute to this life. And once you find out what you want to contribute, once you find your passion, don’t give up on it.”
Near the end of the ceremony, a graduate presented a rose to the mother of Class of 2022 member Phoenix Brannon, who passed away in 2015.