Ava Victory Academy bid farewell to the eighth-grade and senior classes of 2011 on Friday, May 13. Kaylor Walker, daughter of John and Gwen Walker, and Anna Hailey, daughter of Cindy and the late David Hailey left junior high behind and became high schoolers, while five seniors left high school to become college students and a military man.
The graduates have made the following plans: Kendra Young, daughter of Carmen Young was Class Valedictorian and received scholarships totaling $11,750.00 to attend Southwest Baptist University; Tyler LeClear, son of Theresa Walker and David LeClear, was Class Salutatorian, and has enlisted in the United States Navy where he will participate in the Nuclear Engineering Division. Tyler will receive $92,000.00 in education and enlistment bonus. Lauren Cassell, daughter of Bill and Leigh Ann Cassell, has been accepted to a summer internship through English Language Institute/China, where she will teach English to Chinese elementary – high school students in Hong Kong. When she returns she will attend Missouri State University. Lee Schmidt will attend Ozarks Technical College. Lee, Lauren, and Tyler each received an Edward Dean memorial scholarship. Justin Doane, son of Jon and Sherri Doane, has plans to attend Drury University in Springfield.
Graduates, pictured above, l to r, are Kendra Young, Anna Hailey, Justin Doane, Lee Schmidt, Tyler LeClear, Kaylor Walker and Lauren Cassell.
