Senior Awards

001I'm white disgusting enough Communications this is to welcome you all to our new location we'll see how it works so far so good I would like to welcome you all to the awarded scholarship presentation for the Savannah High School senior class of 2023. today's ceremony begins with several Awards our first award and our first presenter is Nita Jones and she is presenting the Chamberlain Rush Memorial award foreign look at you guys here we are congratulations and we only have one lady with a broken foot here so far that's good that's good he waited till the end of the year great well my words always have Quotes no you don't know this these people know them they go oh no she's going to talk a long time do quotes I say two words be kind and

002believe you go a long ways in that department and it's never too late to be kind Too Young Too Old be kind and this Chamberlain Rush award we've been given this out 28 years this man was from Ohio Mr Chamberlain he was 90 when he came to create this award he rode the bus he wrote he had two canes he walked with and he earlier in his life he had dated Miss rushed from Sudan he fell in love with Miss Rush she doesn't school teacher and she he fell in love with sedan he loves sedan so we decided he decided to give this award to people that was kind and believed and this this is a word for what you've accomplished already not for something you're going to accomplish in the future so we have

003two this year and it's for also people that you see around town doing things Community work is good and we want you all to always think about coming back to sedan after you do your life through your your education on your work or whatever we're always here waiting for y'all to come back remember that so this is also I've got two here I'm going to give today and it is let's give this one to Mallory Draper this one is for what she I think you've done wonderful with your mental health thing no I think we all need that a lot in the world and this is it comes with a hundred dollars to do whatever you want to honey thank you now this other one this is a man that he plays football basketball baseball

004and he um he he was practicing Golf out at our place several of the boys practice golf I see him back there hanging in the back there next year you know and I don't think try to knock the ball the golf ball over the pond well if we drain that Palm Sunday it's going to have a whole score of golf balls they don't always make it over the pond and that person is code of Blankenship and I don't see code of Blankenship anywhere because some of you call code on the phone I've been sleeping tell him he just won a hundred dollars thank you very much [Applause] you guys have your phones good job it's finally sunk in representing the kshsaa citizenship Awards Carla cherico yeah um this year we have a boy and a

005girl that both received the Citizenship Award in order to receive this award it is for excellence as an exemplary young citizen who has demonstrated in a marked respect for Country assumed responsibility for improving school and community and has shown reverence for life this year's Awards go to miss Melody Holt [Applause] thank you foreign [Applause] I'll be recognizing the students who completed the Kansas Board of Regents Kansas scholar curriculum in order to do this these students have taken four units of English four units of math four units of or three units of science which included chemistry and physics three units of social studies and two units of foreign language so they had to complete this to qualify and then those students who had a high enough act were also designated as Kansas Scholars and can apply

006for a scholarship so the first student is Abigail Bauer [Applause] JC Cummings [Applause] Levi Dell [Applause] Melody Holt [Applause] Ashley Kuna [Applause] and our Kansas State scholar who had a high enough Act is Madison Holt [Applause] Madison of course has to bear with everybody in making all the foot jokes Mrs Williams is not good at telling the two of them apart never has been I don't know why so you guys went to you didn't have to go that far I would have figured it out eventually okay into our scholarships presenting our first scholarship candy Valley Electric is Dan Hubert good morning I've got two Awards over picked uh both of them were real proud of Ashley kuna and Valerie Drake [Applause] thank you Jim and Eileen Houdini Memorial Scholarship is presented by Gary cuday congratulations

007I'm sure this last year seemed like a long time for me that I was just here a week ago so it seems goes fast I want to First say it's a great pleasure and honor to be able to support my home Community with these scholarships these many past years in the name of my mother and father it's an honor to remember and honor them to me and hopefully this will go on for we had quite time this year but what we had so many applicants but the problem was it was Madison Mallory Melody Madison and it was rather difficult to keep keep demonstrated so with what time but first scholarship goes to a young lady who will attend Pittsburgh state and attempt to get a degree in public relations our agreement [Applause] next up we

008have again lady who is again with the Pittsburgh state to preserve to pursue nursing developing holes [Applause] third up is another young lady who is going to Costco Community Junior College to seeking a degree in medical lab technician Madison hurt [Applause] and last but not least a young lady who is going to Pittsburgh state seeking the degree in nursing home [Applause] scholarships were also awarded to Anna Spradlin Andrea Sears Caitlin Williams Joshua beaver Haley Williams and congratulations darling [Applause] presenting the Les Davis Blue Devils scholarship Cahill we went out of order there at the government okay it is my great honor to present the Les Davis Blue Devil scholarship of course I knew coach Davis for many years as a student and um and worked with him the scholarship was established for Les Davis who

009was a Blue Devil coach for 38 years coach Davis believed that a relationship with God family and school were vital to being a well-rounded person this scholarship is available to any graduating and sedan high school student they must participate in a sports for a full season at shs they must plan to attend a post-secondary institution during the upcoming school year it's a one-time Award of a thousand dollars this year's recipient of the Les Davis scholarship is a young lady who has literally played every sport for four years volleyball basketball softball and the last Davis scholarship this year goes to JC Cummings [Music] [Applause] or County Mental Health scholarship is presented by Carla cherico or County Mental Health Awards a 250 scholarship to a graduating senior at Sudan who has made great achievements at their high

010school and is planning to continue their education this year I am proud to present the Four County Mental Health scholarship to miss Mallory Draper [Applause] foreign breakfast scholarship Bob Miller okay good news for all of you here even the ones sitting down to stand this is Mrs Jones and I had something in common wheelchair uh but I went down to the motorcycle rally this last weekend and somebody down there in that Arkansas Area gave me this cold so I could only talk for 30 minutes this morning I said 45. okay well congratulations seniors um you've made it through uh I do want to just touch uh first of all I want to I like to get out of this shout out to Mrs Williams because I believe Mrs Williams puts in a lot of efforts

011for you okay for the students for this small school this small town so thank you Mrs Williams [Applause] you know I I want to um well I graduated here in 1979. I know that was a long time ago I know you can't think that far back um next year I'll have a 45-year reunion and uh I I thank my God that he brought me here to Sedan Kansas back when I was 10 years old and uh and that's it this was the place for me and uh I want to read to you a scripture Jeremiah 29 11. and I think it fits for me but it also fits for you in a different story or different setting for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not

012to harm you plans to give you hope and a future and I believe that the almighty God gave me the hope and the future in Sedan Kansas when I was 10 years old and I thanked him for it all the time so and I want you all to consider that also okay um my daughter tells me dad you can't preach all the time and I'm not but the whole purpose is possible plant a mustard seed okay that's what I'm that's what I'm here for um this is the community men's prayer breakfast uh scholarship we've been giving this out for a long long time I can't tell you how long um but God has always provided the funds for it and um and and we are we are uh very very blessed to be able to

013give to in this in this round I want to share one last thing with you before um I tell you who you are who gets it who gets there a man stopped and I only owned built right building downtown y'all don't even know where that's at but the old-timers out here does um and there's a man stopped in there one day and and the zimmermans used to have an antique shop there and he stopped in and serviced them with some different stuff and so forth and on the side of his truck he had us a um a little old magnetic sign and I took notice of it and I'm like hey that's a really cool sign and he reached over in the seat and got me one he said put one on your truck and

014I've had it on the truck ever since then I know it's real small but hopefully somebody notices it at any given point in time wherever I'm at it says this if you miss knowing me you miss nothing if you miss knowing Jesus Christ you miss everything so I wanted to share that with you and I and with that being said um we're given two uh scholarships there this year uh 250 dollars one time [Music] and the two girls that uh that wrote this letter uh wrote these letters of the application I've I've read these things for years and years now and I believe they're the finest letters I've ever read and and I and I thank you for for putting in your letter just what God meant to you okay that's a that's a major

015plus one of the things that are that we give the scholarships on is the emphasis on service to the church okay and a lot of times the applications we get don't even mention that so that's a little tough so anyway for this year we have Madisonville and Melody home now okay that was Madison in her acting like and Madison don't get up I'll walk all the way over there and bring it to you presenting the Blue Devil Foundation scholarship Jill Gray everyone congratulations it's an honor to be here I'm an 89 graduate at sedan high school and it's nice to see some people grew up and Heather and Carolyn and I went to high school with so this is always nice the Blue Devil Foundation was created in 2020 as an independent non-for-profit organization dedicated

016to serve the students at USD 286. the goal in the foundation is to bridge the gap between student needs and District funding to ensure that our students have opportunities that might otherwise not be available in a small school district we are pleased to be able to offer one thousand dollar scholarships to continue to Gap the bridge for graduating seniors who plan to attend vocational or technical schools learn a trade or enter the workforce the Blue Devil facial Blue Devil Foundation is awarding two scholarships this year after graduation our first recipient will be attending Coffeeville Community College to study medical laboratory technology and I will side note if you need a job when you get out of school call me let's work something out congratulations Madison hurt [Applause] um our next recipient will also be attending

017Community or Coffeeville Community College juries to complete the requirements for a welding certificate and oddly enough if you ever need a job too call me congratulations Pedro Davila [Applause] thank you okay these guys may not have used their cell phones it's somebody back there did Nina would you like to come make your presentation because your gentleman's in the back somebody told them come up was you asleep no no oh well pardon yes I told him the story about the dolphin but you missed all of it it was really good but this is for being kind you're always kind and believing right you wouldn't like you wouldn't want to argue with me would you okay well we congratulate you with the Chamberlain Rush award and in this you get a hundred dollars for what you've done

018being kind and believe congratulations [Applause] presenting the FCA scholarships Sarah Hill okay and why have you all here one last time I just wanted to say you guys have been such an awesome class and it's been so great getting to know all of you you will be terribly terribly missed by all of us so congratulations on all of your awards today and graduation tomorrow um so I'm gonna take this time um I'm here on behalf of the Stan Fellowship of Christian athletes um and take time to congratulate two recipients of this award um your dedication to SCA leadership skills and demonstration of Godly characteristics has set you apart and made you worthy of this recognition you've demonstrated commitment by regularly attending Wednesday night group activities and Thursday morning devotion uh Thursday morning breakfast meetings you've

019like group devotions prayers help with clean up and set up for FCA activities beyond your contributions to SCA you've also displayed leadership qualities at school in sports and outside of school your good sport sportsmanship on and off the field being coachable athletes and team players and explaining to kindness towards all students are all examples of the great principles that you live by congratulations to Madison and Melody Holt for books for receiving this award sedan FCA wishes you all the best in your future [Applause] thank you I am proud to recognize the winner of the SDK chapter Delta waterfowl scholarship every year when I receive scholarship notices through my email I forward them out to the kids and basically say if it applies to you apply for it so I never really know um if they

020do or not unless they win so we did have a student who was awarded a 500 scholarship she has to apply for it obviously and she wrote an essay about how the outdoors had impacted her and so I am pleased to recognize she's already received her scholarship and if she would please stand Ashley kiman thank you just recognize that their annual banquet may be in March and I believe she's the first one we've never had a student apply or win them so presenting the Limerick Ranch trust scholarship is Sarah Hill okay I am pleased to present the Lambert Ranch trust scholarship this scholarship has been established through the Ranch Estate which operated for many years as lemmer brothers just west of humans these scholarship funds are intended to help graduating seniors from Sudan High School

021continue their study and work toward an advanced degree from any type of educational institute Institute it is my pleasure to award scholarships to Melody holds [Applause] Mallory Draper Madison holds [Applause] JC Cummings [Applause] Madison hurt [Applause] tayden Tyndall and Cody Nation [Applause] yeah presenting the Madeline root Memorial Scholarship the Travis Memorial Scholarship and the Bob render scholarship is Kathy gray representing Legacy Foundation Legacy Community Foundation strives to create a stronger future for our area research has demonstrated that one of the best ways to invest in the future is to support the education of our young people I'm happy to represent the many donors that have come together and establishing funds to support scholarships totaling a hundred and thirty four thousand dollars this year for our students the Madeline Ruth Memorial Scholarship was established in memory

022of Madeleine rude long-time out in Kansas resident and supporter of higher education it is to be awarded to a worthy sedan high school graduate or graduating senior or they meet that plans to attend college today I am awarding to and they will go to Madison hurt [Applause] um the Fred and Betty Travis Memorial Scholarship is made for Fred and Betty Travis longtime Educators in Chautauqua County Kansas this scholarship is open to all sedan high school graduates however priority is given to the students entering the field of Education students May reapply for this award on a year-to-year basis today I am awarding five Abigail Bauer JC Cummings [Applause] Melody Holt [Applause] Mallory Draper [Applause] and Madison Holt [Applause] Robert Warner lived in southeast Kansas his entire life having never married God established the scholarship with the

023savings he deliberately set aside over his 36 years as a public school music teacher 21 of those years he taught Karen Savannah his intention was to contribute to four years of college for one student from each graduating class the reality has exceeded his dream there are currently 25 students receiving this scholarship and today we are adding one more Cody Nation [Applause] presenting the First Baptist Church scholarships Pastor Mark Davis good morning congratulations to all of you I'm here today because many years ago there were seven families of First Baptist Church that went together and created an account to supply scholarship funds to the seniors here but it's not just to the seniors it's to it's a renewable scholarship so each year that you continue in your further in your education you can reapply and have

024the possibility of receiving fund to help as you continue I'd like to recognize those families that set this up and they are the fadeless Floyd's funks Joanne Greer Nobert Lloyd Lacey Reyes and Elsie trauer those are people that felt education was extremely important and they knew by furthering your education that you had a good chance of being a very successful citizen in the country the First Baptist Church will hold a special service honoring you on August the 6th at 10 30. and everyone was invited I'll be handing out envelopes here in a moment and then leave his envelopes gives you the information that you need to know location time place and most importantly how much money the scholarship is going uh so if you have questions call me should be most of the information should

025be in this envelope but there may be a question that you might have so feel free to call you this year and the First Baptist Church gave out over eight thousand dollars in scholarships and today we're here to recognize JC Cummings [Applause] thank you Frankford [Applause] lead by now [Applause] Melody [Applause] Madison Burke [Applause] foreign [Applause] live and have a very successful life if you ever meet us we're there for you [Applause] presenting the FFA booster club scholarship John Wells thank you more than everyone everybody's sunburn okay no no anything like that it still hurts but okay so uh good morning on behalf of the sedan F5 booster club uh I'm here to announce the winners of 370 750 scholarships to a graduating senior the FFA boost Club was organized in 2018 to help support

026and Advance FFA members with the belief that leadership and service is the foundation of the agricultural industry this year's recipients are Ashley Puna foreign Abigail Bauer [Applause] and Danielle now [Applause] thank you presenting the Elevate Bank scholarship Trish stratabush well I made it here you go so the Elevate Bank academic scholarship formerly known as the First National Bank of Savannah academic scholarship is to be awarded to two worthy graduating seniors or the amount of five hundred dollars which we will give the first half first semester in the second half um recipients must be in the top 10 of their class and must mean a few following criteria um some of that would be like scholarship probability of continuing education leadership initiative dependability and a few other things um we had a great group of applicants

027this year scholarship committee had a difficult time deciding um and if I was supposed to go to the bank I would have given you off but so however the two that were selected the bank Fields will represent and are very worthy of that scholarship so it is my honor to give Mallory Draper and Madison Holt [Applause] presenting the shs music booster club scholarship and the Sharon Katie Walton Memorial Scholarship is Rosie Sweeney congratulations kids yeah I had the pleasure of watching you through a lot of years and it's a joy to see you guys grow up and become the young adults that you are I've sat here looking at the board that says once a Blue Devil always a Blue Devil I didn't grow up here but I feel like I've still got blue blood

028in me and it's been a joy to to be part of city in high school and I hope you guys have those fond memories too Bob I thought well my 50th is in two years and it's just hard to believe time will fly but make the best most of it once you guys have so um I'm gonna go ahead and get both of these scholarships together the sedan booster club was created back when I took over the band and I don't remember that year 2001 too somewhere in there but they hold fundraisers mainly a tailgate party and then during football season in a potato bar in the springtime at a basketball game to raise money for this scholarship it's a 250 dollar one 125 for each semester and um the Sharon Katie Walton Memorial Scholarship

029was created by Dale Walton after his wife Katie Walton had passed away and this was a couple who would contact me every year at the beginning of school and say do you have any grandkids that need anything do you and then if we ever did a trip they always call up and go is there a kid who doesn't have enough money that we can help with and I would usually tell them well there's this or there's that and they would drive in town and give me a check that same day they cared enough and they wanted to keep the program going so it's my honor to present a kid that I've watched throw up and encourage through the years when I was teaching and watching think through band and so both of these scholarships the

030Katie Walton scholarship is 500 250 for each semester and so Cody Nation these both go through [Applause] thank you presenting the sunflower Association of educational office professionals Sue killing good morning class and congratulations to all of you we are proud of you we hope you go out and see the world and we'll decide to come back home we always be welcome we have two scholarships to be in today um these are 375 this year we sell nuts in the fall to raise money so it's a Nutty scholarship I guess but anyway I am pleased to present this one to Madison hurt [Applause] and the other goes to Danielle Bell [Applause] I want to remind you seniors to use your movie ticket to the Greg and have a concession on us we'd like to see them

031and juniors remember we can help you with your community service at the great theater too thank you foreign [Applause] the John and Shirley Laster Memorial Scholarship Chris Brown bush so I'm helping out the daughter of John and Shirley and so I will read her letter to all of you guys today gives me great joy to honor the memory of my parents John and Shirley Laster for their contributions to the community of Sudan and the students in Unified School District 286. together as Educators and counselors they've dedicated nearly 60 years of their lives to expanding the horizons of thousands of young people in South for those who do not remember John and Shirley please indulge me with a few words to introduce them to you John Laster grew up on a farm in southeast Oklahoma he

032enlisted and served three years in the Army infantry during the Korean War during his time in Korea he saw a live combat five times and was decorated each time for his courage Upon returning home he utilized the GI bill to earn not only a bachelor's degree in education but also a master's degree and an education specialist degree from at Oregon State University he then began his career teaching business classes at Sudan High School and serving as an Adjunct professor at the nearby community colleges and Independence in Coffeyville later in his career he became the guidance counselor at shs where his greatest joy was Helping Seniors find their way to a post-secondary education Shirley Laster was born in southeast Oklahoma where she met and married my dad in 1953. she completed her teaching degree from Pittsburg

033State University and went on to become fifth and sixth grade science and math teacher for sedan Elementary later she would assume the role of homeroom teacher for room 5A or for 30 years she worked to bring out the best in every fifth grader who walked through her door a true Pioneer in the early 80s she spearheaded the introduction of computers into the Elementary School classrooms and she was named Master teacher for her efforts for 50 years she enjoyed the camaraderie and respect of her fellow professionals as a member of Delta Kappa Gamma a sorority for teachers in 1995 she was nominated for Kansas teacher of the year and honor which she has referred to as the greatest professional distinction of her life so today along with the generous assistance of Trisha ratty bush from Elevate

034Bank she is proud to honor four students this year for the John and Shirley last year Memorial Scholarship and those winners are Pedro Davila tayden Tindall Madison heard and JC Clements [Applause] thank you presenting the Colton Chase Memorial Scholarship is Clint Williams congratulations you guys uh under prayer speech I don't have anything to read off of my ex teachers that's kind of scary but uh Colton was a great friend of mine uh he loved sedan he loved being a blue devil and I know he'd be very proud to help and give something to somebody that's graduating so this year's goes to Madison hole I'll let you walk up here presenting the sedan Chamber of Commerce scholarship Raylene Davis good morning everyone I'm glad to see you all here and congratulations on a job well done

035class of 2023 very exciting time for you as you go out into the world and I wish you the very best on behalf of the chamber with that being said I want to award the scholarship today to Mallory Draper [Applause] presenting the Ellis Foundation scholarship Cahill you're doing great we'll have to I'll come see you guys for a loan it's going to be great the Ellis Foundation is a foundation that was established as a non-profit charity by Danny Ebola Ellis in memory of their daughter Kathy Lynn Ellis Adrians Kathy was a mushless teacher influenced by many lives before passing away of breast cancer in 1998. since then the Ellis Foundation has committed over 20 million dollars in scholarships for deserving students under the direction of Kathy's brother Chris and his wife Catherine the Ellis Foundation

036scholarship has grown with addition of outside sponsors including many local donors who are committed to helping students from their Hometown achieve a college education the Ellis College Scholars benefit not only from financial assistance but from a mentoring program designed to help support you as Future Leaders if you want more information you can visit their website at the ellisfoundation.org these eight thousand dollar scholarships support each student for four years so that's going to be great four years you're going to reapply and have this scholarship we're plait very pleased to announce there were two scholarships from the Ellis Scholars Madison Holt will receive the rooted in rural education scholarship and Melody hope will receive the recruited and Rural education scholarship congratulations [Applause] presenting the chapter DC peo scholarship is Jill Gray peo is a philanthropic organization where

037women celebrate the advancement of women this is done through Sisterhood scholarships grants and Loans to motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations we are pleased to announce Mallory Draper as this year's recipient [Applause] presenting a mark Mendenhall Memorial Scholarship is Tim Hills congratulations you guys and all your accomplishments you have to be proud of yourselves we look forward to watching on the next chapter of your lives to see where you're headed Mark Mitten all's scholarship was first awarded in 1973 in a memory of Mark who was a class that was a classmate of mine it was one of my best friends he lost his life in the motorcycle accident and a sophomore year of high school as in 72 so I'll have my 50th here in a couple years too the scholarship is administered by

038The Epiphany Episcopal Church scholarship will pay a thousand dollars per semester for four years as long as the recipient stays in good standing in his enrollment School scholarship committee bases this decision on numerous criteria but a couple of the main criteria are scholarship leadership character and the probability of continuing your education this year we'd like to award our scholarship to the young lady that is planning on attending Pittsburgh State University and majoring in nursing which looking at her foot it's a good thing Miss Madison hope thank you presenting the Tanner Miller Memorial Scholarship Nate Thompson on behalf of the Miller family a scholarship will be awarded in the memory of tan Miller he was a 2007 graduate of our school seniors ever forget to keep moving forward no matter the difficulties in your life there

039will always be someone somewhere to help you through the difficult times seek help and never give up the Tanner Miller Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to Mallory Draper [Applause] congratulations presenting the Russell Family Foundation scholarships Jeannie Beeson good morning and congratulations to you all the Russell Walters scholarship is a family that lived here for many years and they used to have an airport so Tim anybody would remember that but yeah well Alice Walters became my adopting grandmother so that's why I'm present this today but they really believed in in education and they wanted to share they the Russells had no children so you're all their children so anyone who applies it is a renewable scholarship so and it can be a very generous scholarship so don't hesitate any Juniors to apply if you you qualify

040for that scholarship and I've just had you come up one at a time Abigail powers [Applause] Madison hurts I'm just hearing Madison so many times that I can get them all mixed up now Madison home JC Cummings [Applause] I'm not good at this can you tell Mallory Draper [Applause] and Melody Holt [Applause] time you guys first of all congratulations to all of you on all of your accomplishments not only today but everything that you've accomplished throughout High School and we look forward to what you're going to do with your future um all of you please make sure you check your award letters carefully for the explanation of procedures to receive your money most Awards contain Provisions where you must contact the donor or the sponsor and bring proof of enrollment and or semester grades several

041scholarships also have renewal capabilities and receipt and procedures if you have any questions please contact me I will get you into contact with any of these presenters here today here's a summary of today's Awards we have 26 scholarship donor organizations 12 students from the class of 2023 received at least one of today's scholarships students have also received scholarships from the universities they have chosen to attend please stand if you have received an academic athletic or music scholarship for next fall you have happy birthday [Applause] and here's why I really want the Juniors to attend the total amount awarded today was over a hundred and eight thousand dollars and this is in local money this is not including the scholarships that these students have stood up um and the receipt because of Athletics refusing this amount

042does not take into account any renewal opportunities this was just the amount given today our presenters today represent the generosity of Chautauqua County their families and organizations have chosen to invest in the class of 2023. the presenters today represent those generous individuals and organizations please join me in giving them a round of applause thank you a final congratulations to all of today's award and scholarship recipients congratulations and best wishes to all of the members of the class of 2023 a reminder that graduation exercises will be tomorrow at 10 o'clock right here in the gymnasium this concludes our senior Awards and scholarship presentation for 2023 thank you for attending foreign [Applause]