Bronaugh grads promise to 'live the life you love'

Haley Brooke Ussery, valedictorian of the Bronaugh High School Class of 2012, addresses several hundred people at May 19 commencement ceremonies. The salutatorian was Cody Bott. The class had 16 graduates.

BRONAUGH -- Espousing a motto inspired by the late reggae musician Bob Marley, the 16 members of Bronaugh High School's Class of 2012 were awarded their diplomas in a lighthearted ceremony that one of their teachers said somewhat belied the seriousness many of them had shown as students.

The motto was, "Love the life you live, live the life you love," and the class left Monday for a week-long trip to Orlando, Fla., where they would visit Universal Studios, among other attractions.

"They are pretty good kids," said high school science teacher Susan Ricketts, who had introduced valedictorian Haley Ussery and salutatorian Cody Bott May 19 in the school gymnasium.

"They're a mixture of serious and fun-loving. Some like to have a lot of fun and others are real studious. They were a very good class. I expect them to succeed in whatever their goals in life are."

Ricketts said Tuesday that Haley is following her sister Tessa, a former BHS valedictorian, to Missouri State University at Springfield, where Tessa is getting a bachelor's degree in speech therapy this spring. Haley is as yet undecided what her major field of study will be.

Cody is enrolling as a pre-medical student at Pittsburg State University.

Most of the other graduates are also going to college, although Ethan Gray has enlisted in the Air Force, Ricketts said.

Tyler Brannan's father, R-7 School Board member Andy Brannan, presented him his diploma while Alexis Brown's grandmother, board member Saundra Bogart, gave her hers.

Other graduates are Monique Campos, Tanya Chadd, Ty Cliffman, Ruger Cox, Tori Hagerman, Nicholas "Nick" Hoye, Raeann Mader, Tyler Murphy, whose classmates nicknamed him "Tater," Victoria "Vickie" Robb, Stephanie Stone and David Strunk, whose diplomas were presented by Board President Chris Baker.

National Honor Society distinctions went to Tyler Brannan, Alexis Brown, Monique Campos, Ruger Cox, Raeann Mader and of course Cody Bott and Haley Ussery.

A slide show of younger photos of the class members and other videos was shown between Haley's and Cody's addresses, and Cody gave the senior key to junior class president Lindsay Baker.

Holding their 45th reunion, members of the BHS Class of 1967 were asked to stand and be recognized by Sherry Brown, who co-sponsored the 2012 class with Cathy Williams.

The commencement program also featured an aphorism by the late American philosopher William James, who wrote, "Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." The class flower was the orange tiger lily.

Directed by Matt Hendrix, the school band played "Pomp and Circumstance" for the processional and recessional, prior to which the class flung their caps into the air.

Directed by Matt Hendrix, the Bronaugh High School Band plays "Pomp and Circumstance" during the processional of graduates May 19. The commencement was held in conjunction with the 45th reunion of the school's Class of 1967.

Ricketts noted that the school is getting new leadership with Superintendent Lyle Best of Miami, Mo., and Principal Geoff Stewart of El Dorado Springs.