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You've got eMule!
Vol. 11 No. 27
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from Poplar Bluff Schools to help start your week on the right hoof.
| PBHS sophomore selected for Missouri Fine Arts Academy | |
Sophomore Virginiagrace Vandewarker has been selected to participate in the Missouri Fine Arts Academy this summer, the first qualifying student from Poplar Bluff High School in a decade, according to recent memory.
Virginiagrace has been chosen as the only student from this region among 100 total across the state to attend the two-week residential program, from June 4-17, through the Reynolds College of Arts and Letters at Missouri State University in Springfield.
Since transferring here midway through last school year, Virginiagrace “has proven to be a capable musician and a leader in our choir program,” stated Joshua Allen, PBHS director of vocal music. In addition to MFAA, Virginiagrace made All-District Choir this year and recently qualified for the Missouri Choral Directors Association summer honor choir for grades 9-10, Allen noted.
With funding approved by Missouri Legislature in concert with privately supported scholarships, the Academy was established for highly motivated student artists in the fields of visual arts, theatre, dance, creative writing and music. MFAA offers an intensive schedule of classes in interdisciplinary and discipline-specific arts, and a wide range of co-curricular activities.
Participating in the vocal music area of study, Virginiagrace wrote in the essay included in her portfolio, along with an audition video, about how the performing arts have helped her stay connected through the pandemic and during a move across the country.
“I may have been the new kid when I walked into these programs, but soon I found that I essentially had a built-in family of friends just waiting for me to help make these hard transitions a bit easier,” Virginiagrace stated. She has always wanted to take vocal lessons, she said, and believes the program will allow her to further develop the craft.
“I am hoping to be surrounded by like-minded peers who will help me to become a better musician and help improve my confidence and social skills,” Virginiagrace explained. “I also hope to learn through constructive criticism to be able to critique my technique and mature my vocal skills to overall benefit me in the future.”
PBHS previously had then-sophomore Karamenah Adams participate in the MFAA for vocal music in 2013, alongside junior Alexa Miller, who qualified within the theatre discipline. Judged by a panel of artists and educators, students grades 10-12 may apply to the Academy.
| Designing Women Foundation awards $6.4K to Poplar Bluff students |  | |
The Designing Women Foundation has awarded a total of $6,400 to scholarship recipients and reading contest winners from the Poplar Bluff school system during its annual reception held Monday, May 8, at the Bloodworth House.
Seniors Kirstyn Millner, Emmalein Pendley and Quinlan Rutledge each were awarded $1,000 Designing Women scholarships through an application reviewed by the overseeing board. Millner plans to major in nursing at Brigham Young University in Utah, Pendley intends on majoring in physics at Missouri State University in Springfield, and Rutledge declared that she would pursue nursing at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
In addition, Pendley was awarded a $2,000 Charlie Classic scholarship for reading 100 vetted books throughout grades 7-12. She also received $300 for being the top Charlie Classics reader of the Class of 2023, completing 47 novels this school year alone. Mackinley Cox, a sophomore, read 20 books, earning $300 for her efforts.
At Junior High, eighth grader Andrew Mahurin read 22 books and Marie Njoh, grade seven, read 30 books, winning $300 respectively. Seventh grader Claire Faries additionally earned $150 for reading 25 books. Honorable mentions were seventh graders Kendall Fitzwater and Hattie Scobey, who both read 20 classics, earning $25 Walmart gift cards.
The Designing Women Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the cultural and educational enrichment of deserving young people, primarily through its reading and scholarship programs. For more information, visit www.designingwomenfoundation.org.
Above: (From left) Kathern Harris, Designing Woman chairperson; students Kirstyn Millner, Quinlan Rutledge and Emmalein Pendley; and R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill.
Below: (Left to right) Linda Surber, Charlie Classics coordinator; students Ammalein Pendley and Claire Faries; Kathern Harris, Designing Woman chairperson; students Marie Njoh, Mackinley Cox and Hattie Scobey; Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill; and students Kendall Fitzwater and Andrew Mahurin.
|  | PBHS earn $3K in scholarships from American Red Cross |  | |
Poplar Bluff High School earned $3,000 in scholarships from the American Red Cross, dispersed among four students, for reaching the goal of units collected during blood drives.
Abby Murphy was awarded $1,000, Emma King and Paige Morey each received $750, and Lee Thompson was granted $500 in a competitive application process based on school and community involvement, and how service learning has impacted the students' lives.
“We are so excited to help our community, save lives and demonstrate opportunities of service that can extend past a high school career through these blood drives,” stated Jennie Randolph, Student Council co-adviser. The student organization is in charge of overseeing a series of blood drives each year.
Murphy has volunteered at numerous blood drives throughout her time in High School. In addition to StuCo, she has been involved with the drama club and choir. She said in her successful application that service learning has allowed her to work on developing leadership and communication skills, plus build integrity.
“I have developed major growth from my freshman year to what is now the end of my senior year,” Murphy wrote. “These experiences and growth opportunities have made me a better person and leader in my school and community.”
King has donated blood before, and is a member of drama club, band and AmeriCorps. Through her experiences during her time in school, she has decided to work with children.
“Through my volunteering, I have developed better leadership skills, communication skills, empathy, social skills, patience, and so much more,” King stated. “These qualities will come in quite helpful when it comes to being a children’s advocate because I will have to learn to stand my ground, make connections and understand how I can make sure the children I help live happy, healthy lives.”
Morey has both donated blood and served at blood drives multiple times as a member of StuCo. Her involvement has influenced her direction, as she plans to pursue a nursing career following High School, she noted.
“Doing community service or just helping out in the community as needed I have developed a passion for helping others and being more involved in the community,” Morey wrote. “…I have learned to understand that everyone has different things going on and they handle these things differently, so to be understanding of situations.”
Thompson has donated blood consistently during drives and plans to continue to do so in the future, as the experience has helped him develop a greater sense of compassion, he said. He has held student leadership roles with SkillsUSA, e-sports and the Sho-Me Marching Band.
“These qualities will stick with me all my life and help me to be a better leader after seeing how much love there is in my community for one another,” Thompson said. “…It gives me a unique sense of connection to those who gave with me by mutual circumstances.”
A total of 282 units of blood were collected over the course of four blood drives hosted at PBHS, with one being canceled due to staffing issues. While 301 units are required in order to reach the $3,000 tier, account manager Jerrica Fox explained how grace was granted since Poplar Bluff rescheduled a late drive in May from a previous weather-related disruption, helping to combat a shortage that typically occurs over summer break. About 25 percent of the Red Cross’ blood comes from schools and colleges, Fox pointed out.
Above: (From left) Emma King, Abby Murphy, Paige Morey and Lee Thompson were awarded scholarships from the American Red Cross on Tuesday, May 16, at PBHS.
Below: Earning graduation cords for volunteering or donating blood through the Red Cross were (back row, from left) Paiton Willis, Bralin Duckett, Lee Thompson, Quinlan Rutledge and Alyssa Whitmer; (middle row, left to right) Maryna Krizman, Abby Murphy, Lanie Robertson, Emma Hicks, Jordyn Ridens and Ella Skillman; and (front row, from left) Ahna Maycroft, Paige Morey, Braeden Johnson, Sidonia White and Emilie Baker. Not present for the photo were Miles Coleman and Mariah DeShaney.
|  | April Athletes of the Month named |  | |
The Mules Booster Club has named Adrianne Casey and Lawson Barks of Poplar Bluff High School the April Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Lawson, a junior golf player, had four wins in the 10 tournaments that were played, qualifying to compete in the state championship, as of this award presentation. He also had the low round of the year with a score of -3/68 during the Poplar Bluff Invitational at Westwood Hills Country Club.
“Lawson is the captain of the Mules Golf team. He was selected because of his integrity and respect for others,” stated Billy Pyland, his coach. “His leadership skills are off the charts.”
Adrianne, a senior track and field competitor, was the 2023 SEMO Conference champion in javelin; 2023 All-Conference in shot put; 2022 All-Conference in pole vault; and placed first in javelin at the Poplar Bluff Invite and Zizzer Relays. She is currently ranked ninth in javelin and 39th in shot put for MSHSAA Class 5, and is the school record holder in javelin with a throw of 40.32 meters.
“Adrianne is the definition of what a teammate is,” said her coach Elizabeth Lewis, adding that student-athletes describe her as the ‘ultimate hype teammate.’ “Adrianne is always studying the sport and asking questions to better her skills. It is very impressive from a coach’s standpoint to see an athlete develop a skill as quickly as she has and be so strong in their new events.”
Above: Lawson Barks and Adrianne Casey are presented the Athlete of the Month awards by Brian Taylor, Booster Club president, on Tuesday, May 9, in front of the new visitor concessions at Mules Stadium.
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Half-Day
The last day for the 2022/23 school year will take place Thursday, May 25. Early dismissal times are as follows: Mark Twain - 11:20/11:30 a.m. (staggered by grade level); Middle School - 11:30 a.m.; Junior High - 11:40 a.m.; High School - 11:45 a.m.; Kindergarten - 12:30 p.m.; and Elementary Schools - 12:45 p.m.
PBHS Graduation
The commencement ceremony for the PBHS Class of 2023 is slated to take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 25, in the Black River Coliseum. Save this link to watch the live stream!
ECH Screening
The final screening of the Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center for attending the 2023/24 school year will take place on Wednesday, May 31, at the 1202 Camp Road campus. To schedule an appointment, call 573-785-6803. Child must be between the ages of 3-5 on July 31, 2023, in order to be eligible.
Summer School
Summer school will run from Monday, June 5, through Friday, June 30. Lake Road will go to Eugene Field and Oak Grove will go to O’Neal, otherwise all buildings K-12 will serve as host sites.
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On Tuesday, May 16, the University of North Carolina announced that PBHS alumnus Tyler Hansbrough was elected to the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
On Wednesday, May 17, the DAR reported about the Poplar Bluff Middle School Honor Roll banquet.
On Saturday, May 20, the DAR published a special section honoring the Class of 2023.
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