Top graduates find time to demonstrate musical talents

Being at the top of the class, it's a family thing -- at least for Erin Welker.

Her motivation? Sibling rivalry.

Meadow Heights High School 2013 Valedictorian - Erin Welker (Laura Simon)

Welker is Meadow Heights' 2013 valedictorian. Her sister, Lacy, held that honor when she went through school and her brother, Tyler, graduated salutatorian. She just had to be at the top, too.

Welker said it wasn't hard to stay ahead in school. "Our family's always been, 'Come home, do your homework,'" she said. "You just get it done. They didn't have to make us do it. We just did it."

Welker plans to go into Southeast Missouri State University's nursing program.

"I just like to help people," she said. "It's a good job, you know?"

Welker was involved in school -- she was a member of Beta Club and student council; she was class president for three years; and was the drum major for the marching band for three years.

Her favorite pastime falls outside of school. Erin can play the bass, the guitar, the mandoline and the piano. She's been playing music since she was six years old. It's a family thing.

Welker, her parents and siblings play music at church on Sundays. Her parents bought her an upright bass, and she stood on a camp stool until her uncle built her a special one with "Erin" on it. The first piece of music she learned to play was "House of Gold."

"Everybody knew me as the girl who stood on the stool," she said. "Our family went around playing at all the different churches. We all played different instruments and have fun."

Known as the Don Welker Family, they used to drive within about an hour radius playing for different congregations. They don't travel as much anymore, but they still play Sundays at Plainview.

She said it's the family time she enjoys the most. "It's fun to learn new songs and see who can pick it up the fastest," she said.

Music also can be a stress reliever for her.

"Sometimes, if no one else is home, I'll go in and play something, tinker on the piano or just get a guitar and strum and see if I can find a new song," she said. "But it hasn't been too stressful yet."

Welker can't wait to meet new people and live on campus this fall.

"I'm looking forward to that," she said. "It's going to be a whole new life."

Aaron Scherer

Oran valedictorian Aaron Scherer wants to work with computers. He's attending the University of Missouri this fall to major in computer engineering.

School wasn't a facet of Sherer's life that took a lot of time and effort.

Oran High School 2013 Valedictorian - Aaron Scherer (Laura Simon)

"It just comes to me on the grades part," he said. "I can pick stuff up pretty quick."

Because of his adept handling of schoolwork, Scherer was able to lend his time to hobbies outside of school, like working on computers and playing his guitars.

He's interested in how computers work in general.

"Video games and computers interested me my whole life," he said. "I've worked on computers before. I take older ones and use any parts I can find." He sells them, too.

Sherer decided on the University of Missouri because his mother is an alumna and he's visited Columbia several times. He loves the campus, and he said Speakers Circle played a big part in sealing his decision.

He hopes to spend more time playing music when he arrives at the University of Missouri. Sherer taught himself to play four years ago with help from YouTube, Google and GuitarTabs. Sherer's father plays a bit, and Sherer said that, along with Guitar Hero, really got him into music. He decided he wanted to play the real thing.

He has three electric guitars and an acoustic guitar. His favorite is his Fender Stratocaster. It's a Sunburst, with a Jimi Hendrix strap.

ZZ Top is his favorite band. Scherer admires ZZ Top's style: suits, beards, sunglasses and cars. Last year, he saw ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.

Scherer was president of FBLA and a member of FFA, the art club and the science club, among others.

"I'm just going with the flow, trying to live each day to the best, because we don't have that many, and they go too fast," he said.

botto@semissourian.com