The Thirty-third Annual Warsaw R-9/Warsaw Chamber of Commerce Academic Banquet was held on May 2 with honor students and parents filling the gymnasium.
Whitney Day, president of the Warsaw Area Chamber of Commerce, welcomed everyone to the banquet followed by Superintendent Scott Gemes who gave the invocation. Students, parents, members of the Chamber of Commerce and donors enjoyed a meal prepared by the Warsaw District Food Service.
After the meal, Warsaw High School Principal Danny Morrison introduced the speaker for the evening David Lemon. Lemon, a 1998 graduate of WHS, has been the chief revenue officer at Archer Technologies in Kansas City for many years. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri with an engineering degree. He and his wife Hilary are the parents of three children and live in Kansas City.
While a student at WHS, Lemon excelled in wrestling, football and track. As Morrison related, Lemon was the first WHS wrestler to take first place in the Missouri State Wrestling Tournament. He was also a Bright Flight Scholar and Valedictorian of the Class of ‘98. In addition to all these activities, Lemon played the baritone in the WHS band and performed several years in the Missouri State Music Festival in a brass quartet. He was also named as the Male Athlete of the Year for 1998.
Lemon’s advice to the students was to not be afraid to fail and take advanced classes to prepare for the future. “Grow and learn,” said Lemon. “Fish, don’t just jump in the boat.” He also urged students to appreciate their parents for the sacrifices and help they have given to get their students to this point in life. He also told students to thank their teachers for their help in achieving their goals.
Next Superintendent Gemes presented retired Warsaw R-9 instructors Bob and Linda Lemon the Warsaw School District Service Award for 2024.
Linda Lemon started teaching in 1969 at Chillicothe High School in Chillicothe, MO. She taught for three years and then moved to Iowa where she taught for nine years at Clarinda Junior High School. In August 1981, Linda Lemon started teaching for the Warsaw School District. She taught reading at South Elementary and then English at John Boise Middle School. She retired in 2000.
Bob Lemon started teaching in 1973 in Villisca High School in Villisca, Iowa. In August 1981, Bob Lemon started teaching math at WHS. Later when computers were introduced to the district, he became the computer science teacher. He retired in 2000.
The Lemon's are the parents of two sons Michael and David, who are both engineers. They also are the grandparents of five grandchildren.
Next, WHS Principal Morrison, Whitney Day and Megan Petersen, from the Warsaw Area Chamber of Commerce and Assistant WHS Principal Nathan Parker presented Academic Excellence Awards and Scholarships.
Freshmen receiving awards included: Adele Anderson, Elizabeth Barclay, Levi Bilderback, Lillian Bullock, Bailey Burnworth, Connor Callister, Maya Daughenbaugh, Jordan Dove, Natalie Koenig, Sara Miller, Alivia Morrison, Jasmin Myers, Lillianna Perez, Maylee Slavens, Elizabeth Winters.
Sophomores receiving awards included: Natalie Banfield, Hayley Boly Ayden Burdick, Hailey Ferguson, Parker Gemes, Alyssa Hanscom, Brayden Henderson, Tanna Howe, Elsie Hughes, Wesley Jackson, Colton Kern, Amarillo Martinez, Ella Miller, Brennen Slavens, Amy terry, LilyAnn Valentine.
Juniors receiving awards included: Ashlynn Adams, Brylee Brewster, Haylee Cobb, Paige Callier, Jaxon Deckard, Garrett Ferguson, Logan Gemes, Brooklyn Jackman, Maya Jolliff, Madison Lawrence, Elijah Long, Keira Mostaffa, Drake Murrell, Shane Poyser, Marissa Ricke.
Seniors receiving awards included: Alyson Alcantara, Hunter Collins, Grace Drake, Sarah Gilbert, Erin Goodpaster, Sarah Holmes, Zane Huffman, Josephine Kelsey, Angela Konopasek, Elliot Kowal, Dallas Steinhoff, Olivia Strange, Joseph Vorce, Autum Walton, Hannah Wooldridge.
Senior Erin Goodpaster received the Kevin LaPittus Scholarship for $500.
All seniors attending received a $350 scholarship and the underclassmen attending received a $25 gift certificate.
Donors for the Academic Banquet included: Platinum – Community National Bank and Trust and Hawthorn Bank; Gold Donors - Camp Cumcito, Equity Bank, Knights of Columbus #8620, Main Event Wedding Boutique and Event Rental, Shawnee Lodge #653; Silver Donors – American Family Insurance-Jeanette Limback Agency, Back in Action Chiropractic, LLC, Church of Living Water, Crossroads Family Ministries, Drake Harbor Trading Co., Drake Land Title Co., J & D Pharmacy, Inc., Ladies Auxiliary-Knights of Columbus, State Farm Insurance-Suzie Brodersen, St. Ann’s Altar and Rosary Society; Bronze Donors – Campbell Family Farms-Anita Campbell, Country Charm, Elite Billiards and Alehouse, Jo Ann Lane, Hope5one, Sonic Drive-In, Tracey Spry and Associates, and Warsaw Christian Church.
