Licking High School Class of 2026 commencement

The Licking High School Class of 2026 crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, with a change this year. Licking’s traditional Mother’s Day ceremony was moved to Friday evening, May 8.

Senior week led up to the event. Tuesday evening, May 5, the Senior Academic Reception was held at Assembly of God Church, with special speaker Mrs. Judy Beckett. Scholarships and awards were announced at the event, and students received their cords and stoles to be worn at graduation.

Wednesday evening was Baccalaureate, which was held at Licking Christian Church. Senior Class President Addison Floyd welcomed seniors and family members attending and senior Isaac Rinne gave the opening prayer and senior address. Delivering the main message for the evening was LHS Baseball Coach Cole Roark. Special music was performed by The Cat’s Meow.

Thursday evening was the senior parade, and seniors enjoyed a trip north on Main Street from the school to Licking Christian Church, with cheers and waves from friends and family along the route. This was followed by a cookout at the church.

Friday was the big evening, as the 51 members of the LHS Class of 2026 and their families and friends packed the Sherman Hill Field House for the Commencement. Student speakers for the evening included Addison Floyd, speaking on Academic Excellence; Sadie Hutsell and Christopher Ross-Leffler, sharing their thoughts on Character; and Mylie Peterson, who reminisced on the Memories the class shared over the years. Dr. Jarad Rinne presented the senior class and diplomas were presented by school board president Dr. Jeremy Rinne, along with other board members and administrators. At the conclusion, confetti filled the air, along with a few caps, as the graduates celebrated their achievement.

At the Academic Reception on Tuesday, students graduating with honors were recognized. Students graduating cum laude, with a 3.7-3.84 cumulative GPA, included Sadie Hutsell, Isaac Rinne and Joshawa Wade. Summa cum laude honors, with a 3.85-3.99 cumulative GPA, were earned by Noah Umfleet and Emilie Williams. The top honor, magna cum laude, with a 4.0 and above GPA, was bestowed upon Jadyn Barnes, Addison Floyd, Jasmine Smith and Karson Walker.

Three students received Citizenship awards. Addison Floyd and Sadie Hutsell tied in the selection process and both received the senior girl’s award, and Karson Walker received the award for the senior boy.

New awards this year were delivered from the State Capitol directly to the Academic Reception by Representative Bennie Cook. Missouri Glory Awards are courtesy resolutions celebrating students who exhibit the following fourteen characteristics:

• Charity – Katelyn Mitchell

• Education and Knowledge – Karson Walker

• Enterprise and Truth – Christopher Ross-Leffler

• Equality, Justice and Temperance – Sadie Hutsell

• Fraternity and Virtue – Addison Floyd

• Honor – Dakota King

• Law – Adam Morgan

• Liberty – Mylie Peterson

• Progress – Joshawa Wade

Students receiving scholarships and awards at the reception included:

Jadyn Barnes – Justin Dixon Memorial Scholarship, $250; United Community Help Center Scholarship, $1,000; Alumni Scholarship, $500; TCMH Healthcare Foundation Scholarship, $1000; George Washington Carver Award; A+ Scholarship

Aleksey Cook-Gilmour – United Community Help Center Scholarship, $1,000; Licking VFW Memorial Post 6337 Scholarship, $1,500; Colton Ogden Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; Jim Little Memorial Scholarship, $500

Dayllyn Cooper – Coy L. Rodgers Memorial Scholarship

Benton Corley – A+ Scholarship

Kobye Dunigan – Justin Dixon Memorial Scholarship, $250; D. Wyatt Memorial Scholarship, Interest; Steve Denbow Memorial Scholarship, $400; A+ Scholarship

Branson Evans – A+ Scholarship

Addison Floyd – IECA Charitable/Educational Foundation, $2,083.33; United Community Help Center Scholarship, $1,000; Booster Club Scholarship, $500; Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, $500; Daniel Hatch Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; Lisa Henry Memorial Scholarship, $500; Steve Denbow Memorial Scholarship, $400; FCCLA Scholarship, $300; George Washington Carver Award, A+ Scholarship

Sadie Hutsell – CTA Scholarship, $750; IECA Charitable/Educational Foundation, $2,083.33; Justin Dixon Memorial Scholarship, $250; Eden Bisker Memorial Scholarship, $300; United Community Help Center Scholarship, $1,000; Licking VFW Memorial Post 6337 Scholarship, $2,000; Booster Club Scholarship, $250; Gina McKinney School-at-Large, $1,000 (+ interest); Earl Haggard Scholarship, $500; State Fair Comm. College Music, $1,500 (renewable); MO Gaming Association Project 21 Scholarship, $1,500; Int’l Brotherhood of Boilermakers Scholarship, $2,500; Steve Denbow Memorial Scholarship, $400; A+ Scholarship

Ryder Ingram – A+ Scholarship

Dakota King – Steve Denbow Memorial Scholarship, $400; A+ Scholarship

Tyrone Merdian – Earl Haggard Scholarship, $500; A+ Scholarship

Katelyn Mitchell – Town & Country Scholarship, $1,000; Paul Morrison Music Scholarship, $250; A+ Scholarship

Caleb Owen – A+ Scholarship

Abigail Penn – A+ Scholarship

Mylie Peterson – IECA Charitable/Educational Foundation, $2,083.33; United Community Help Center Scholarship, $1,000; Steve Denbow Memorial Scholarship, $400; A+ Scholarship

Andrew Ronald Rife – Isaac Haden Memorial Scholarship, Interest; John Gyory Memorial Archery Scholarship, $100; Gina McKinney Memorial Scholarship S&T, $2,000

Isaac Rinne – IECA Charitable/Educational Foundation, $2,083.33; United Community Help Center, $1,000; Licking Booster Club Scholarship, $250; Housden Family Scholarship, based on interest; Rock Springs Scholarship, $10,000 (renewable); Steve Denbow Memorial Scholarship, $400; Jimmy Gobble Memorial Scholarship, $250; Luke Holland Baseball Scholarship, $1,000; College of the Ozarks, $25,095 (renewable); A+ Scholarship

Chris Ross-Leffler – Helping Hands Scholarship, $1,000; Paul Morrison LHS Science Club, $250; VERTO Global Citizen Scholarship, $13,250; A+ Scholarship

Abigail Sanders – Chilton Oil Company Scholarship, $1,500; Lindenwood Academic Merit, $8,500 (renewable)

Morgin Sherrill – Justin Dixon Memorial Scholarship, $250

Jasmine Smith – Stephen Maynard Memorial Scholarship, $250; Webster Univ Gold Scholarship, $20,000 (renewable); Girls State Scholarship, $1,000 (renewable); George Washington Carver Award, A+ Scholarship

Kolten Sullins – IECA Charitable/Educational Foundation, $2,083.33; Licking VFW Memorial Post 6337 Scholarship, $1,000; LHS Alumni Scholarship, $500; A+ Scholarship

Noah Umfleet – Gina McKinney Memorial Scholarship S&T, $2,000; George Washington Carver Award’; A+ Scholarship

Karson Walker – IECA Charitable/Educational Foundation, $2,083.33; Booster Club Scholarship, $500; Dave Murphy Scholar Athlete Scholarship, $1,000; Dale Stanley Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; Jim Little Memorial Scholarship, $500; James Miller Memorial Scholarship, $500; Steve Denbow Memorial Scholarship, $400; Cherokee Nation Scholarship, $2,500; George Washington Carver Award, A+ Scholarship

Mickie Whitaker – A+ Scholarship

Emilie Williams – United Community Help Center Scholarship, $1,000; Progressive Ozark Bank Scholarship, $250; MET (MO Educators’ Trust), $500; A+ Scholarship

Photos by Shari Harris