Salem High School class of 2017 commencement exercises will take place 7 p.m. Friday at the Salem High School football stadium. This is the 132nd graduation of the school. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the SHS gymnasium.
The Salem High School Chamber Singers and the Salem High School band will perform during the ceremony.
The counselor’s office reports that 121 students are expected to graduate Friday evening.
Awards will be presented for citizenship, best all-around boy and girl, as well as valedictorian and salutatorian recognition.
Valedictorians are Makayla Cahill, Ty Conley, Makenna Farrar, Carson Mowery and Kirsten Strebe. Salutatorians are Payton Curley and Kari Hatridge.
More than $70,000 was awarded to 33 students during the Salem R-80 School District’s annual Scholarships Award Ceremony held April 25.
SHS class of 2017 officers are president Carson Mowery, vice president Lyndsey Parker, secretary Hannah Headrick, and treasurer Ty Conley.
The class chose a classic Ralph Waldo Emerson motto, “What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”
The class song is the 1985 classic by Simple Minds, Don’t You (Forget About Me).
The annual baccalaureate service was held Sunday at Grace Community Church. A student-organized event, the service is a special time for graduates and their families and friends.
Salem Chamber Singers performed, as well as speeches by seniors and a sermon by Pastor Casey Reed. A tribute to Savanna Roney, class of 2017, was presented as well as a senior slideshow.
Project Graduation is held after the service annually. The all-night event is a drug and alcohol free time to for the seniors to celebrate alongside friends in a safe environment. Seniors will travel to Kokomo Joe’s and enjoy unlimited play of go-carts, batting cages, arcade and more. The remainder of the evening will be spent playing laser tag, swimming, enjoying snacks and more at Missouri S & T. Over 100 students have signed up as of Tuesday.
