Education

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Karlie Powers, communication arts teacher at Southwest Middle School, is the recipient of the Missouri Retired Teachers Grant.

The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) held their annual National Leadership Conference in Chicago June 29 through July 2. Two Purdy students earned a spot to compete at the National level after third place wins at the State FBLA Conference in April. Senior M’kena Propps and Freshman Nathan Harris traveled to Chicago with Adviser Emily Kooi to compete at the highest level. Propps returned with a 6th place finish in Client Service. Propps competed in a preliminary pool of 78 students from across the nation before moving on to the final round where she earned 6th place. Purdy FBLA is guided by Advisers Kay Wright and Kooi. Contributed photo

Art students at Cassville Middle School recently brought home 51 ribbons, including 16 first place ribbons, from the Big 8 Art Show at the MARC in Mt. Vernon. Front row, from left: Julie Fenley, James Fletcher, Joel Hawkins, Isabella Bauman, Alexis Lopez, Brynn Whittenburg, Audrey Kennedy, Dusti Artherton, Gracie Maher, Rose Love and Marisol Salas. Second row, from left: Shevy Smith, Courtney Wall, Carlee Mitchell, Audrey Mitchell, Valentine Vang, Hailey Isley, Liberty Hilburn, Kayla Priest, Kevin Haas and Anabele Mills. Back row, from left: Cannon Rose, Sterling Zucca, Reinna Robinson, Jadyn Stewart, Claire Reuter, Ava Hinson, Ansley Harris, Benji Elliott, Dennis Craig, Bradyn Alley and Sabrina Vera. Absent were: Aiden McBroom, Aubrey Taylor, Isabella Williams, Mike Yang, Haven Brook Lingo, Harley Madison, Lovella Blangger, Tera Tippings, Isabel Herrin, Tucker McCorckle, Lyryk Messimore and Landon Messbarger. Contributed photo

The Shelter Insurance Foundation awarded a $1,500 scholarship to Emilee Mann and Pa Vang, graduates of Cassville and Wheaton high schools, respectively. Shelter Agent Terri DeGraffenreid Brattin sponsors and partially funds this scholarship.

The Southwest FFA Soils team competed in Oklahoma City on May 5 at the National Soils Contest, where the team placed 4th in the nation. Team members are Macy Colf, Allen Hendrix, Caleb Ayer and Lilly Wolf. Ayer placed 13th individually. Contributed photo

A homeschooled Cassville student has recently been awarded a scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association. Hannah Driskill, daughter of Mike and Amy Driskill is seeking out a four-year degree after she graduates in 2023.

Jillian LeCompte will travel to Louisville, Kentucky in June to compete in the 2022 National Speech and Debate Tournament along with 6,000 other students representing 1,500 school districts across the country.