Red Oak graduates 88 Tigers

RED OAK — During Sunday’s graduation ceremony, Red Oak seniors were encouraged to work hard, making success inevitable for the class of 2013. 

“It may seem like this ceremony marks the end of life as we know it,” Valedictorian Geoffrey Sellers said. “However, it’s just the beginning. I want to remind you to always work hard… I know all of you can be successful, I’ve seen it, and success is bound to happen if you work hard.”

Sellers and Salutatorian Bevin Griffen presented the scholar speeches at Sunday’s ceremony in the Red Oak High School gym.

Griffen reminded her classmates not everything will be perfect, but one cannot judge the actions of others. Everyone must find their own paths in life.

She ended her speech in the words of Dr. Seuss.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go”

Seniors elected Tanner Allensworth’s mother and Inman Primary Principal Gayle Allensworth as the parent speaker, and she provided her unique perspective on the class of 2013.

“I get to be with students during their first experience in education,” she said about the kindergartners she has been welcoming to Inman this week. “And this year, I’ve got to experience students’ last experience in education.”

Allensworth reminded the seniors they have the power to control their own perspective and no one else, using the example of the number 13. While many people have a negative perspective surrounding the number, the class of 2013 has reason to change that to positive.

“High school: focus on the amazing things you’ve known and been a part of,” she said while holding back tears. “Sure, you’ve had trials and tribulations and may not have liked everything about it, but you’ve ended up right where you need to be.”

The class motto was, “The memories we’ve shared, the times we’ve had together, they will stay with us always — goodbye is not forever.”

Class officers include: Geoffrey Sellers (president), Jessica Redd (vice president), Ashley Peterson (secretary) and Margaret Houston (treasurer).

Principal Jedd Sherman called out the graduates’ names while School Board President Lee Fellers handed out diplomas.

The 88 Red Oak graduates were also honored at a senior award night Tuesday at the Wilson Performing Arts Center where more than $385,000 was given in local and university scholarships.

The awards and scholarships include (visit redoakexpress.com for award pictures):

— Academic All-Conference Award: Ashley Peterson and Geoffrey Sellers;

— Omaha World Herald All-Academic Team Honorable Mention: Bevin Griffen and Geoffrey Sellers;

— Ronald Reagan Student Leader Award: Geoffrey Sellers, Pete Walker, Ashley Peterson and Nick Leinen;

— American Association of University Women Scholarship ($200): Macayla Jipsen, Bevin Griffen and Courtney Marsden;

— Jim Logan/Red Oak Express Scholarship ($500): Madelynn Mann;

— C.G. Aluia K. Lingo Memorial Scholarship ($180): Zoey Baker;

— Thomas Randall Draper Memorial ($1,000): Nick Leinen;

— Help Our Youth Scholarship Heritage Foundation ($1,000): Jessica McFarland and Kaitlyn Danick;

— Red Oak High School Class of 1942 Scholarship ($500): Dustin Jones;

— Glenava Klopping Scholarship ($500): Pete Walker;

— Don Downs Memorial Scholarship ($1,000): Nick Leinen;

— Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award: Ashley Peterson;

— American/Iowa Bar Association American Citizenship Award: Ashley Peterson

— Dr. Dick Alan Bergren Scholarship: Ashley Peterson ($3,000), Zoey Baker ($2,000), Kaitlyn Danick ($1,000), Nick Leinen ($2,000), Dustin Jones ($4,000) and Pete Walker ($1,000);

— Russell and Mary Benda Memorial Scholarship ($500): Tanner Johnson;

— KMA Sportscasters Scholarship ($300): Tanner Johnson and Nick Leinen;

— Altrusa International: Macayla Jipsen ($400) and Josie Snyder ($300);

— American Legion Post 67 Scholarship ($500): Pete Walker;

— John W. Eggert Memorial Scholarship ($250): Julie Laughlin and Geoffrey Sellers;

— Red Oak Band Boosters Scholarship ($200): Ashley Peterson;

— Stanley James Plank Memorial Scholarship ($750): Julie Laughlin;

— Red Oak Business and Professional Women’s Club Scholarship ($500): Danielle Gilliland and Macayla Jipsen;

— Mr. Laughlin Future Educator Scholarship ($1,050): Madison Holmgren;

— Red Oak Elk’s Scholarship ($4,000): Wyatt Bailey;

— Red Oak FFA Alumni Affiliate Scholarship ($500): Kyle Olson;

— Red Oak Grand Theatre ($500): Macayla Jipsen;

— Red Oak Lions Club ($500): Josie Snyder;

— Red Oak Optimist Club’s LaVon Billings’ Scholarship ($1,500): Geoffrey Sellers;

— Rotary Club Ray Gustafson Memorial Scholarship ($500): Jessica McFarland and Geoffrey Sellers;

— Montgomery County Memorial Hospital Employee Sponsored Scholarship: Zoey Baker ($300), Nick Leinen ($200), Josie Snyder ($300) and Ashley Peterson ($200);

— Forrest Bloom Scholarship ($400): Kyle Olson;

— Montgomery County FFA Co-op ($500): Kyle Olson, Remington Tranbarger and William Stanley;

— Good Samarian Society of Red Oak ($250): Josie Snyder;

— Beta Sigma Phi Scholarship ($250): Josie Snyder;

— Classy Chassis Car Club Scholarship ($250): William Stanley;

— JFSCO Engineering Scholarship ($500): Nick Leinen and Pete Walker;

— Mills-Montgomery County Cattleman: Dallas Haas ($600) and Drew Askey ($300);

—Danette Harman Letterman’s Club Manager/Trainer ($200): Jessica McFarland;

— Lowell and Blanche Kinnison Scholarship ($500): Bevin Griffen;

— Gustafson Family Memorial Scholarship ($500): Drew Askey;

— LaDonna Focht Memorial Scholarship ($250): Nick Leinen;

— Montgomery County Pheasants Forever Scholarship ($500): Josie Synder;

— Reifel-Elwood Educational Foundation ($200): Bailey Akers;

— Warren J. and Virginia Petty Scholarship ($4,000): Nick Leinen and Dustin Jones;

— Ina C. Murphy Scholarship ($500): Jacob Smith;

— Dupont Pioneer Community College Scholarship ($500): Tanner Allensworth;

— Speech Award: Brad Black;

— Red Oak High School Vocal Music Scholarship and Music Awards ($200): Bevin Griffen, Danielle Gilliland and Geoffrey Sellers;

— American Red Cross Scholarship: Bevin Griffen ($250), Dustin Jones ($250) and Ashley Peterson ($500).

Seniors receiving diplomas include: Bailey Akers, Tanner Allensworth, Andrew Askey, Wyatt Bailey, Zoey Baker, Nikolas Betts, Bradley Black, Darin Brammer, Zachery Brower, Dylan Brown, Kaitlyn Danick, Amanda Deitering, LeAndrew Demont, Casey Dykes, Margo Elarton, Allison England, Jazmin Euken, Keelan Evans, Brandon Farnum, Sierra Fenn, Danielle Gilliland, Keegan Gohlinghorst, Bevin Griffen, Adriana Guerra, Dallas Hass, Austin Hale, Kaleb Hale, Leann Hamilton, Kristopher Hardy, Shelby Helberg-Storesund, Mitchell Hilder, Jayden Hilding, Madison Holmgren, Margaret Houston, Guadalupe Ibarra, Erica Jackson, Jamie Jespersen, Micayla Jipsen, Tanner Johnson, Dustin Jones, Jonathon King, Brett Klyn, Mary Kort, Brandon Lamb, Taylor Lapora, Julie Laughlin, Alexis Leibert, Nicholas Leinen, Amanda Leininger, Shae Lewis, Madelynn Mann, Courtney Marsden, Jessica McFarland, Carl Mertz, Dorothea Meyer, Samantha Morris, Maranda Myers, Bradly Nowlin, Kyle Olson, Nylea Pafford, Gage Palmer, Jose Perez, Devon Perkins, Shannon Perkins, Ashley Peterson, Chloe Phelps, Devin Redd, Jessica Redd, Kathryn Rooker, Sydney Sallach, Jonathon Sands, Geoffrey Sellers, Marissa Sherman, Jacob Smith, Josie Snyder, William Stanley, Tyler Terry, Kelsey Thoren, Remington Tranbarger, Bryce Uhlenberg, John Walker, Kaitlin Walston, Michael Williams, Brianna Wolcott, Eva Woods, Katie Wright, Dillon Yeager and David Zwerk.