MVHS grads start new chapter

Marmaton Valley High School valedictorian Kendall Scharff and salutatorians Aly Are and Jenni Armstrong give speeches to guide senior classmates into the future.

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May 16, 2022 - 3:55 PM

Marmaton Valley High School’s Kendall Scharff, valedictorian for the Class of 2022, addresses her fellow seniors at Saturday’s commencement. Photo by Richard Luken / Iola Register

MORAN — Nineteen members of Marmaton Valley High School’s Class of 2022 celebrated their high school commencement by looking back, and to the future Saturday.

Kendall Scharff, class valedictorian, described graduation as the end of a chapter, with the students themselves responsible for filling the rest of the blank pages, noting her class may provide the next batch of teachers, farmers or other professionals.

“Marmaton Valley has given us all the papers and pens we need to work on the stories of our lives,” she concluded.

Aly Ard and Jenni Armstrong, class salutatorians, also spoke about their experiences.

“We all worked hard to get to this day,” Ard said. “A high school diploma is a wonderful tool … that opens many doors in this world. But graduation is not an end goal. Life is a journey.”

Armstrong, too, reflected on essays and victories, taking time to thank her family members, friends, teachers, pets and others who have played roles in her graduation.

Saturday’s ceremony also featured another recent tradition, in which each senior gave a small “gift” to the USD 256 Board of Education President Bill Bigelow, in the form of paper leis. Each draped the necklace around Bigelow’s neck as they received their diplomas.

Marmaton Valley-USD 256 School Board President Bill Bigelow is “gifted” with floral necklaces as a light-hearted prank from the graduating MV seniors during Saturday’s commencement. Photo by Richard Luken

ON TOP OF THE comments, scholarship recipients from the graduating glass were announced.

If each scholarship is used to its fullest extent, the students will garner more than $44,000 in financial aid, counselor Kaylan Lawson noted.

The recipients:

Quincy Adam

American Legion Scholarship

Alyson Ard

Elsmore Alumni Scholarship, Marmaton Valley FFA Chapter Scholarship, American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship, LaHarpe Alumni Scholarship, 2022 AGCO Finance Scholarship, Labette Community College Presidential Award, Labette Community College Avis and Arnett Scholarship

Jenni Armstrong

Allen Community College Presidential Scholarship, Kansas Elks Association Scholarship, Joy L. Houk Memorial Scholarship, Marmaton Valley Cooks Scholarship, American Legion  Jones-Hardy Scholarship, O’Rourke Scholarship

Honor cord recipients for Marmaton Valley High School’s Class of 2022 are, from left, Aly Ard, Jenni Armstrong, Kamryn Boyd, Sara Harrison, Garrett Henderson, Amber Henshall, Caidence Cook, Carissa Mattox and Kendall Scharff.Photo by Richard Luken / Iola Register

Kamryn Boyd

Elsmore Alumni Scholarship, Moran Ruritan Scholarship, Ronald Larson Memorial Scholarship, Marmaton Valley Teachers Organization Scholarship, American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship, Allen Community College Dean’s Scholarship

Carter Burton

Kansas Promise Act Scholarship

Robert Cook

American Legion Scholarship

Garrett Henderson 

Pittsburg State University License Plate Legacy Scholarship, Ron Moore Memorial Scholarship

Cadience Cook

Marmaton Valley FFA Scholarship, Marmaton Valley Cooks Scholarship, Allen Community College Presidential Scholarship

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