Two-hundred and twenty-four graduates received their diplomas at the commencement ceremony for Platte County R-3 High School last Saturday evening at the KCI Exposition Center. The 90-minute ceremony included traditional music performances by the R-3 Symphonic Band and a special performance by the PCHS Concert Choir.
Student speakers at the event included Alex Watson, one of 18 graduates recognized with summa cum laude honors, and Class of 2013 President Kirsten Clemens.
“After graduation, this great moving entity that is our class will break up into its many moving parts and we will all be released into the world as individuals,” Clemens said. “Our dreams may differ, our paths may part, but we will still be unified in our reaching for our goals. And if in the future you ever begin to question the worthiness of your goals, or your ability to attain them and to make a difference, just remember that it does not matter how high our arms can reach, but that we never let them fall.”
Twenty-five graduates were recognized with cum laude honors for a final grade point average of 3.8-3.99; 29 graduates received magna cum laude honors for a final grade point average of 4.0-4.19.
Students graduating with the highest honors — summa cum laude — for their final grade point average of 4.2 and higher included, in alphabetical order: Kyle Christensen, Jacob Cogdill, Kaly Edwards, Rhiannon Fowler, Rain Freeman, Hailey Godburn, Daniel Goering, Lydia Hanman, Benjamin Harris, Haley Johnson, Alyson Lange, Taylor Laures, Kristen Manion, Sarah Regan, Lindsey Reichert, Madison Roberts, Collin Tolliver and Watson.
At a Senior Awards ceremony May 15, 94 graduates were honored with scholarships totaling more than $3.3 million dollars. An additional $1,370,000 will be given to 137 students for qualifying for the A+ program.