Full house at McDonald County graduation

Threatening thunderstorms may have moved graduation ceremonies indoors, but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the Class of 2010.

Some 232 McDonald County High School seniors became the latest graduating class during commencement ceremonies held Sunday afternoon at the school gymnasium. The gym was packed to the rafters with family and friends of graduates, while those without tickets watched the ceremonies on a large screen set up in the school cafeteria.

Dr. Mark Stanton, principal of McDonald County High School, said the class had amassed $565,000 in college scholarships and was one of the most successful classes so far.

“Now leave here as a graduate and do good things in life,” he told the class.

Valedictorian Lance Gooder addressed his fellow students, echoing Stanton’s comments that the Class of 2010 was one of the “best classes at McDonald County High School” and thanked faculty and staff for their leadership and guidance.

“Because of you guys, we’re here today,” he said. “I’d like to extend my thanks, and congratulate all McDonald County graduates.”

State Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, a 1960 graduate of Noel High School, was the keynote MCHS speaker during Sunday’s ceremonies. Ruestman said she remembered her own high school graduation day 50 years ago this past weekend, and talked with seniors about their experiences, relating them to the early pioneers.

“Remember when you sat in front of a computer, trying to think how to make a 10 page report out of five pages of information?” she asked. “Why? Why study? You did it with the same spirit of the men and women of the 1800s.”

She said the class should hold onto their dreams.

“They may have been on the back shelf, but they were still there,” she said. “You may be a doctor saving lives, a teacher shaping minds, a carpenter building houses or even a politician shaping laws. But you must achieve your dreams.

“Although today is your day, take a couple of minutes to look around, look in the stands,” she said. “There are your family, your teachers, your friends. Say thanks to them and maybe even give them a hug. Then take another minute to reflect on what you’ve done and pursue your dreams.”

Ruestman spoke of an unexplored territory with no roads, no signs, and no borders.

“It’s the potential in each of you,” she said.

After Ruestman’s speech, seniors Steven Ates, Shaye Buttram, Kylie Franklin and Alyssa Miller sang “My Wish.” Scott Goldstein, McDonald County R-1 School Board president, then accepted the senior class, and Buttram presented the diplomas to her classmates.

The top 10 students were Gooder, salutatorians Josie Evans and Kadie Hamilton, and Hillary Craig, Buttram, Mitchell Lett, Tawsha Creason, Melissa Webb, Kendra Buchele and Miranda Blevins.
Baccalaureate services were held immediately before commencement, with the Rev. Keith Harmon, youth pastor of First Baptist Church in Springdale, Ark., and a former youth pastor with First Baptist in Anderson, giving the keynote address.

Harmon spoke on journeys in life, and in trusting God and Jesus for guidance.

“What Jesus is asking from each of us is our heart,” he said. “When you get the heart, you get everything. Jesus wants our obedience, but many times, he gets fear. He wants our faith, but many times, he gets faithlessness. He wants our trust, but many times, he gets unbelief. He wants our total surrender, but many times, instead of surrender he gets pride.

My encouragement to you is to give him a try.”

Harmon told of his own salvation experience at the age of 16.

“I lived my life without Christ until I was 16 and then lived with him,” he said. “It’s been a whole lot better with him than without him.”

The event was sponsored by the Anderson Ministerial Alliance, which presented two graduating seniors with a $200 scholarship each. Winning the scholarship were Miller and Travis Franklin.