103 students receive diplomas from Moniteau
Lance Fox, principal of Moniteau Junior/Senior High School, had been talking to the senior class the past few weeks about the Greatest Generation, the generation that included many of World War II's soldiers.
While they were born up to 100 years before the graduating class, Fox told the seniors that their generations are similar because of the unusual challenges they faced in their youth.
“It's not just the normal high school things; they have also persevered through circumstances that are not normal,” Fox said. “I know they're going to have stories they'll be able to tell their whole lives.”
One-hundred-and-three students graduated from Moniteau on Wednesday evening, and Fox commended them all for maintaining good attitudes throughout the difficult school year.At the end of the day, the graduates still got the chance to be with their peers one last time, and they were just as excited about graduation.“I am ecstatic; I am so happy,” said graduating senior Emma Barkley, who plans to attend Butler County Community College after graduation.Class salutatorian Madisyn Muisiner said in her speech that although looking at the past could be difficult, it is what led her and the rest of the class to where they are now.“We must not go into it fearful, but go into it with our heads held high,” Muisiner said.Class valedictorian Jenna Blauser used lyrics from songs that were popular throughout her school career to describe different feelings she had throughout. Phrases from songs like “Live Your Life” by T.I. and “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa helped her explain her feelings.She used lyrics from a current Dua Lipa song, “Levitating,” to encourage her classmates.“Dua Lipa sings, 'We can go wherever, so let's do it now or never, nothing's ever, ever too far,'” she said. “I believe we are all capable of positively influencing the world.”
In wrapping up another school year, Fox said the students and faculty helped keep morale high throughout. “It could have been a very bad year culturally for the school,” Fox said. “But everybody pulled their weight. It wasn't a woe-is-me attitude — it was, 'Let's come together and do what's right.'”Fox said he believes the seniors have bright futures ahead of them.“We're hopeful for them; we're hopeful for their futures after COVID,” Fox said. “It's never going to be the same as it was before for them.”
