|
|
|
Independence, MO —
Pauline Eve was nervous before she stepped across the stage to accept her high school diploma from Van Horn High School.
“I am scared of walking in front of so many people,” she said. “I will miss my friends, but am looking forward to getting a decent job, so I can save money to go to college.”
Eve was one of 133 graduates who participated in the 2012 Van Horn High School commencement exercises Sunday at the Community of Christ Auditorium. The senior class included 20 students who graduated with at least a 3.5 grade point average, 13 students who received the George Washington Carver Certificate and two recipients of the George Caleb Bingham Award.
In addition, four students received the Independence Board of Education Scholarship Award, given to students who rank in the top 1 percent of their graduating class and who spent their entire high school career in Independence schools. These students were Perry Bishop, Luis Cuellar, Jeremy Heitzman and Jimmie Towle.
“It has been a pleasure to work with all of you the last four years,” said principal Greg Netzer. “Thank you for giving us the opportunity to provide you with a quality education. It has been a great ride for all of us.”
Heitzman and Towle were selected to give the Honor Student Speeches.
Heitzman said much has changed since the class of 2012 entered high school. They are the first to spend all four years of high school under the Independence School District banner, and he said they are no longer a “Kansas City project,” but a school to be proud of.
“Our class made a point of turning this school around, and it shows. Our test scores are up, and dropout rates have decreased. The perception of Van Horn has changed,” he said. “We must also thank the community, yes, for voting to make this happen, but for also being there every step of the way. Without them, we wouldn’t be here today.”
Towle said for many, graduation day is the most important day in their lives up until this point. She said as much as graduation is about the last four years, it is also abut the next four years and beyond.
“Wherever we venture off too, we must forge a new path for ourselves,” she said. “We begin our legacy by carving a path into the halls of Van Horn, and we must continue boldly by making a new path. We should not be limited to the constraints that we know, but create new roads on which change can occur.”
Pauline Eve was nervous before she stepped across the stage to accept her high school diploma from Van Horn High School.
“I am scared of walking in front of so many people,” she said. “I will miss my friends, but am looking forward to getting a decent job, so I can save money to go to college.”
Eve was one of 133 graduates who participated in the 2012 Van Horn High School commencement exercises Sunday at the Community of Christ Auditorium. The senior class included 20 students who graduated with at least a 3.5 grade point average, 13 students who received the George Washington Carver Certificate and two recipients of the George Caleb Bingham Award.
In addition, four students received the Independence Board of Education Scholarship Award, given to students who rank in the top 1 percent of their graduating class and who spent their entire high school career in Independence schools. These students were Perry Bishop, Luis Cuellar, Jeremy Heitzman and Jimmie Towle.
“It has been a pleasure to work with all of you the last four years,” said principal Greg Netzer. “Thank you for giving us the opportunity to provide you with a quality education. It has been a great ride for all of us.”
Heitzman and Towle were selected to give the Honor Student Speeches.
Heitzman said much has changed since the class of 2012 entered high school. They are the first to spend all four years of high school under the Independence School District banner, and he said they are no longer a “Kansas City project,” but a school to be proud of.
“Our class made a point of turning this school around, and it shows. Our test scores are up, and dropout rates have decreased. The perception of Van Horn has changed,” he said. “We must also thank the community, yes, for voting to make this happen, but for also being there every step of the way. Without them, we wouldn’t be here today.”
Towle said for many, graduation day is the most important day in their lives up until this point. She said as much as graduation is about the last four years, it is also abut the next four years and beyond.
“Wherever we venture off too, we must forge a new path for ourselves,” she said. “We begin our legacy by carving a path into the halls of Van Horn, and we must continue boldly by making a new path. We should not be limited to the constraints that we know, but create new roads on which change can occur.”
Graduate Veronica Blair said she will miss her friends and classes the most now that she is a high school graduate. She plans on attending Columbia College in Columbia, Mo., this fall to study psychology.
“I think one of my favorite classes was entrepreneurs because it taught me about business and gave me life skills,” she said. “I want to go into psychology because I like helping people with their problems.”
Graduate Corbin Bessmer said he is ready to go to college and cannot wait for the new experiences he will have. He plans attend the University of Missouri in Kansas City to study mechanical engineering.
“It is one of the only things that I truly fine interesting,” he said of his desired major. “To those still at Van Horn, keep working hard. Go to class and get your work done.”
