RHS grads celebrate step to future
Scholarships make transition easier for many

The challenges of tomorrow were deftly entwined with those already overcome when the Rector High School Class of 2009 gathered Friday night in the school gymnasium to usher in the journey to adulthood.

The graduating class contained 46 young men and women, most of whom have been a part of each others' lives for several years. The weight of the momentous occasion was evident in the faces of those in attendance. Emotions shared between life-long friends were on display, as a group of individuals celebrated as one.

The evening began with music from the Rector High School Concert Band. Director Craig Wadley and his students announced the emergence of the graduating class with the traditional accompaniment of "Pomp and Circumstance."

Luke Morris was the first graduate to take the stage, performing the invocation.

Valedictorian Amanda Layer and salutatorian Bethany Sisneros gave their respective speeches, reminding their classmates of not only the roads behind them, but those which lie ahead.

Robert Mote, Sarah Hester, Joabou Mitchell, Hillary Calhoun and Miranda Weaver also were recognized as honor students, each maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher for their final eight semesters.

Principal Wade Williams presented numerous awards to the members of the class. President's Awards of Excellence in Education, recognizing those students with a 3.5 GPA and scoring in the 85th percentile math or reading on a standardized test, were presented to Hillary Calhoun, Sarah Hester, Amanda Layer, Blake McCarroll, Joabou Mitchell, Bethany Sisneros and Miranda Weaver.

Departmental awards were presented to the seniors with the highest average in each area of study. Recipients were: Nathan McClelland, agriculture; Joabou Mitchell, art; Dalton Shaw and Hillary Calhoun, athletics; Hillary Calhoun, business education; Amanda Layer, drama, mathematics, science, speech and foreign language; Bethany Sisneros, English; Robert Mote, social studies; Tara Owens, choir, and Miranda Weaver, family and consumer sciences.

Gifted and talented awards were presented to Amanda Layer, Colby Wynn, Zac Whiteside and Miranda Weaver.

Bethany Sisneros and Blake McCarroll were named Best All-Around, one of the highest awards presented to Rector seniors. The selections were based on the students' citizenship, scholarship, extracurricular activities and contributions to the school.

Following the presentation of awards, these scholarships were announced:

Amanda Layer --- Clay County Arts Council Scholarship, $500; Rector Woman's Club Fine Arts Scholarship, $500; Michael Randleman Theatre Arts Scholarship, $500; Liberty Bank Scholarship, $1,000; International Thespian Scholarship, $1,200; Thea Performing Arts Scholarship, $2,500; Arkansas State University Matching Thea Scholarship, $2,500; Arkansas Governor's Scholarship, $16,000 over four years; Arkansas State University Vice Chancellor's Scholarship, $20,000 for tuition over four years and $12,800 for room and board over four years.

Bridget Kilbreath -- Arkansas Academy of Hair Design, $1,000.

Logan Buck -- Rector High School Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship, $500; Dannelly Lodge Scholarship, $500; Crowley's Ridge College Act 24 Scholarship, $8,000 over four years.

Joabou Mitchell -- Future Teachers of America Scholarship, $200; Arkansas State University Future Arkansas Leaders Scholarship, $8,000 over four years; Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, $12,000 over four years; Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation Scholarship, $5,000.

Sarah Hester -- Clay County Retired Teachers Association Scholarship, $250; Josh Robinson Memorial Scholarship, $300; Doma McCluney Memorial Scholarship, $500; Rector Area Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, $500; Ralph Simmons Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; Williams Baptist College WOW Scholarship, $1,600 over four years; Williams Baptist College Leadership Scholarship, $8,000 over four years; Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, $12,000 over four years; RHS Helping Hands Foundation's Moses Knight Memorial Scholarship, $42,400 over four years.

Hillary Calhoun -- Shawnee Community College Athletic Scholarship, $5,000 over two years.

Jason Mathis -- Josh Robinson Memorial Scholarship, $500; Mary Jo Purcell Memorial Scholarship, $1,000.

Westley Milburn -- Rector Area Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, $500; Mary Jo Purcell Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; Ralph Simmons Memorial Scholarship, $1,000.

Zac Whiteside -- Glen Sain Memorial Scholarship, $250; Hamilton Farms Scholarship, $2,000.

Blake McCarroll -- Rector High School Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship, $250; Harding University Freshman Scholarship, $600; Ralph Simmons Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, $12,000 over four years; Harding University Academic Scholarship, $18,000 over four years.

Bethany Sisneros -- RHS Helping Hands Foundation's Robert and Pauline Crockett Scholarship, $20,000 over four years.

Superintendent Rob Louder presented the class for graduation. Diplomas were given by school board president Dale Vangilder.

Other members of the RHS Class of 2009 were: Trent Arnold, Leigh Ann Beck, James Bradshaw, Spring Carter, Jacob Chronister, Tia Clifton, Lindsay Crawford, Tommi Crawford, Nicholas Deringer, Justin Duke, Courtney Freer, Kayla Hampton, Ashlyn Hill, Landon Hunter, Alyssa King, Agust Lopez, Kelsi Lopez, Jessie Parkus, Ashley Parrish, Samantha Seymour, Arron Spears, Samantha Stewart, Andrew Turner, Gabrielle Wheat, Krystal White, Matt Williams and Michael York.

Graduates performed their class song "You're Gonna Miss This" before joining together to perform the Alma Mater with the alumni in attendance.