Hats Off for Cassville High School Class of 2021
Above, Cassville graduates toss caps to the wind in Wildcat Stadium, Sunday, May 23.
Photo by Sheila Harris.
Photo by Sheila Harris.
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Shown at left, CHS Valedictorian Cole O’Neill delivers his address to a crowd of attendees and fellow students at Wildcat Stadium in Cassville Sunday.
At center, Salutatorian Zane Mebruer holds forth from the podium during his final speech as a CHS student.
At right, Hunter Chasteen laughs as the processional winds its way into Wildcat Stadium.
Photos by Sheila Harris.
At center, Salutatorian Zane Mebruer holds forth from the podium during his final speech as a CHS student.
At right, Hunter Chasteen laughs as the processional winds its way into Wildcat Stadium.
Photos by Sheila Harris.
At left, now considered alumni, members of the CHS Class of 2021 recede from Wildcat Stadium with diplomas in hand.
Photo by Sheila Harris.
Photo by Sheila Harris.
At left, Hunter Chasteen holds his son Garrett after the graduation ceremony at Wildcat Stadium Sunday.
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Above, Landrie Thomas's decorated mortarboard sparkles in the afternoon sun Sunday at the Wildcat Stadium.
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May 26, 2021
Sheila Harris
To the strains of Pomp and Circumstance played by the Cassville High School Band, 138 seniors from the Class of 2021 paraded in pairs, serpentine-style, down the high school track and seated themselves on the football field at Wildcat Stadium Sunday for an outdoor graduation ceremony that marked the culmination of 13 years of education. After nearly a week of continuously overcast skies, the clouds parted and the sun broke through, as if to offer a final hurrah to the graduates as they stepped over the threshold into a different world.
Recognition of Cum Laude honor graduates was offered by superintendent Dr. Richard Asbill, a pre-recorded video of senior choir members singing “I’ll Always Remember You” was presented on the scoreboard marquee, and addresses were given by Valedictorian Cole O’Neill and Salutatorian Zane Mebruer, who plan to pursue educational degrees in medicine and engineering, respectively.
While many of the graduates have had future college plans in place for quite some time, others wondered if they could actually attain the milestone that high school graduation represented. Hunter Chasteen, of Cassville, was one of those students.
“When I found out my girlfriend was pregnant two years ago, I admit I was worried,” Chasteen said. “I wasn’t sure how I could finish school while supporting a little one.”
While Chasteen’s story is not unique in the big picture, his attitude might be.
“I’m so thankful for the support I’ve been given to reach this point in my life,” he said. “If it weren’t for my parents and others who have helped me and given me opportunities to succeed, I don’t know where I’d be.”
Now the father of an almost-two-year-old son with whom he has a close relationship, Chasteen received an internship with Les Jacobs Ford, in Cassville, through Scott Regional Tehchnology Center, where he has participated in their Automotive Technology program for the past few years.
“Darren Jacobs (at Les Jacobs) let me work for him around my school schedule,” Chasteen said, “so I was able to earn money and go to school at the same time. It hasn’t been easy, but I did graduate from high school.”
Chasteen was also a recipient of the annual Les Mason Scholarship, presented at the Scott Tech awards ceremony by Mason’s granddaughter, Ann Spangler. Les Mason owned a Ford dealership in Monett for many years.
According to Chasteen, Ford Motor Company offers educational opportunities for people who would like to continue with a career in Ford automotive service. It’s an opportunity Chasteen hopes to take advantage of.
Landrie Thomas, of Cassville, is also thankful to have reached graduation.
“I hated school when I was younger,” she said, “but my great-grandmother, Shirley Bowling, just kept encouraging me by reminding me of the importance of education. She loved all of her grandkids and really wanted to see us succeed. She was my greatest supporter.”
In honor of her great-grandmother, who died in 2020, Thomas decorated her mortarboard with the simple memorium, “I know she’s proud.”
After the passing out of diplomas and the following recessional, almost as impressive as a 21-gun salute was the fireworks display that celebrated the graduates’ achievement. Orchestrated and performed by Casey Reid of Display Pyrotechnics, valley-ringing fireworks lit up the daytime sky to the delighted surprise of both attendees and graduates.
Afterward, graduates dispersed, heading for diverse future lives, disappearing like the remnants of smoke on the breeze.
Sheila Harris
To the strains of Pomp and Circumstance played by the Cassville High School Band, 138 seniors from the Class of 2021 paraded in pairs, serpentine-style, down the high school track and seated themselves on the football field at Wildcat Stadium Sunday for an outdoor graduation ceremony that marked the culmination of 13 years of education. After nearly a week of continuously overcast skies, the clouds parted and the sun broke through, as if to offer a final hurrah to the graduates as they stepped over the threshold into a different world.
Recognition of Cum Laude honor graduates was offered by superintendent Dr. Richard Asbill, a pre-recorded video of senior choir members singing “I’ll Always Remember You” was presented on the scoreboard marquee, and addresses were given by Valedictorian Cole O’Neill and Salutatorian Zane Mebruer, who plan to pursue educational degrees in medicine and engineering, respectively.
While many of the graduates have had future college plans in place for quite some time, others wondered if they could actually attain the milestone that high school graduation represented. Hunter Chasteen, of Cassville, was one of those students.
“When I found out my girlfriend was pregnant two years ago, I admit I was worried,” Chasteen said. “I wasn’t sure how I could finish school while supporting a little one.”
While Chasteen’s story is not unique in the big picture, his attitude might be.
“I’m so thankful for the support I’ve been given to reach this point in my life,” he said. “If it weren’t for my parents and others who have helped me and given me opportunities to succeed, I don’t know where I’d be.”
Now the father of an almost-two-year-old son with whom he has a close relationship, Chasteen received an internship with Les Jacobs Ford, in Cassville, through Scott Regional Tehchnology Center, where he has participated in their Automotive Technology program for the past few years.
“Darren Jacobs (at Les Jacobs) let me work for him around my school schedule,” Chasteen said, “so I was able to earn money and go to school at the same time. It hasn’t been easy, but I did graduate from high school.”
Chasteen was also a recipient of the annual Les Mason Scholarship, presented at the Scott Tech awards ceremony by Mason’s granddaughter, Ann Spangler. Les Mason owned a Ford dealership in Monett for many years.
According to Chasteen, Ford Motor Company offers educational opportunities for people who would like to continue with a career in Ford automotive service. It’s an opportunity Chasteen hopes to take advantage of.
Landrie Thomas, of Cassville, is also thankful to have reached graduation.
“I hated school when I was younger,” she said, “but my great-grandmother, Shirley Bowling, just kept encouraging me by reminding me of the importance of education. She loved all of her grandkids and really wanted to see us succeed. She was my greatest supporter.”
In honor of her great-grandmother, who died in 2020, Thomas decorated her mortarboard with the simple memorium, “I know she’s proud.”
After the passing out of diplomas and the following recessional, almost as impressive as a 21-gun salute was the fireworks display that celebrated the graduates’ achievement. Orchestrated and performed by Casey Reid of Display Pyrotechnics, valley-ringing fireworks lit up the daytime sky to the delighted surprise of both attendees and graduates.
Afterward, graduates dispersed, heading for diverse future lives, disappearing like the remnants of smoke on the breeze.
