TWENTY-FIVE OAK RIDGE SENIORS EARNED DIPLOMAS FRIDAY NIGHT

Oak Ridge High School salutatorian Jan McLane and co-valedictorians Sarah Wilke and Dawnelle Meyr.

OAK RIDGE -- Sarah Wilke and Dawnelle Meyr will share valedictorian honors at Oak Ridge High School this year. The pair finished atop the 1999 graduating class of 25 seniors. Jan McLane is ORHS salutatorian.

The Oak Ridge seniors will turn their tassels Friday night in an 8 p.m. commencement ceremony in the high school gymnasium. Dr. Kenneth Dobbins, executive vice president at Southeast Missouri State University, will be commencement speaker.

Wilke, daughter of Glenn and Karen Wilke of Friedheim, was also honored Tuesday night at the school's annual honors banquet. Faculty member Del Vecchio was honored as the Radio Shack/Tandy Scholars Outstanding Teacher. Wilke received honorable mention as Outstanding Student.

Other honor students recognized at the banquet were McLane, Meyr, Macaela Morgan, Kim Cowan, Jackie Lappe, Kristie Reid, Dusty Robinson, Audrey Schoen, Dusty Statler, Beth Ahner, Joleta Ludwig, Julie Myers, Deanna Schreiner, Jenny Hrabik, Jessica Light, Amy Pohlman and Seth Stahlheber.

Gene Whelan was keynote speaker, while Principal Shirlie Wright and Counselor Fara McSpadden presented awards.

The class' top three students have packed their resumes with plenty of extracurricular activities and leadership roles, in addition to their academic achievements.

Wilke, who will attend Webster University on a full scholarship, is president of Science Club, secretary of Students against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Pep Club treasurer of the senior class and secretary/treasurer of National Honor Society. She has been a member of the Gifted Program for two years and has been in Future Homemakers of America, Spanish Club and the newspaper staff. She is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim.

Meyer, daughter of Dean and Delores Meyr of Perryville, will be attending Southeast Missouri State University, majoring in nursing. She has been vice president of NHS and has served three years as class president. She was also a cheerleader for four years, including two as co-captain and has been active in band and sports. She is also a member of Trinity Lutheran.

McLane, daughter of Bill and Jean McLane of Millerswille, will attend Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla., where she will major in athletic training. She has been vice president of Spanish Club, secretary of her class three years, treasurer of SADD and historian for the NHS. She has earned all-district and all-conference honors in volleyball and was a two-time All-America cheerleader. She served as co-captain one year and as captain her senior year. She attends Sdigewickville Baptist Church.