Grades K through 12 Runnels Preschool 17255 S. Harrell’s Ferry Road 6455 Jefferson Highway Baton Rouge, LA 70816 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-751-5712 225-927-5803 www.runnels.org Reporter Awards Issue 2013 Sixth Graders Advance Historic Send-Off! to Junior High School While always a significant event, this students, “but year’s high school graduation, held on it didn’t occur On the evening of May 22, our 58 May 16 in the Runnels Theater, took on accidentally.” sixth graders received their elementary a sense of historical import with the ap- He said that school diplomas at a festive graduation pearance of American space exploration when he was ceremony held in the Runnels Theater. pioneer Capt. Alan Bean -- one of only the gradu- Valedictorian Among the graduates, five were Isaac Phillips eight living human beings to have ever ates’ age, his second-generation Runnels students. walked on the moon -- as the keynote dream was They presented roses to their parents or speaker. “to become a great pilot.” In college, he representative family members in the “It’s not very often you get a chance said he studied engineering because he audience. to introduce and wel- thought it would make Guiding the students through the come a legend,” said him a better pilot -- in graduation exercises was Assistant Head Founding Headmaster spite of people trying of School and Preschool and Elemen- Dr. L.K. Runnels as he to warn him off by tary Principal Gladys Runnels assisted presented the Gemini, saying that the classes by Elementary Assistant Principal and Apollo 12, and Skylab would be too hard. He Guidance Counselor Marcia Mackay and astronaut to the gradu- persevered and won his Dr. Runnels. ates and more than 500 engineering degree. Before getting their diplomas, many guests, who received “Accomplishing graduates were presented with awards in him with a standing dreams is not easy,” he the areas of academics, athletics, visual ovation. emphasized. “It’s hard, and performing arts, and service. In November of but you’ve got to be Special awards were given to Jr. Beta 1969, as an astronaut willing to persist.” Club members who contributed more aboard the Apollo 12 He said that he than six hours of service this school year spacecraft, Capt. Bean learned early in life including, Hannah Bienvenu, Numail became the fourth man how important it is not Khan, Caroline Longeway, Zoe Patton, Above: Apollo astronaut Alan Bean, in history to walk on the only to work hard but to Anna Claire Pousson, Aaron Taliaferro, our 2013 commencement speaker, Justin Taliaferro, Emma Tooraen, Rachel moon. recalls his historic exploits in space. focus on being the best Wehbe, and Thomas Worsham. In 1973, he was back Seated are Jr./Sr. High Principal person you are capable in space, this time as Conchetta Foshee and Founding of being and doing the Outstanding Service awards for con- commander of Skylab Headmaster Dr. L.K. Runnels. best job you can with (See Sixth-Grade Graduation, p. 3) Mission II, which lasted everything you do, every day. 59 days and traveled 24,400,000 miles. He also told the audience that after Capt. Bean resigned from NASA in seeing the desolate landscape of the 1981 to become a professional artist. “I moon, he gained a new perspective on want to record, in fine art,” he explained, our planet. “I now appreciate every “paintings that will tell future genera- moment of being able to live on this tions of humankind’s first exploration of beautiful planet we call the earth,” he another world....” said. “So far, we have not been able to In his commencement address, Capt. locate any other place in our universe Bean offered memories, insights, and that has even a blade of grass.” observations from his exciting life as an Capt. Bean said that he is grateful astronaut and artist. for the “Garden of Eden” here on earth, As he spoke, slides of his paintings with trees and flowers and air to breathe, Kayla Lee receives her elementary school and photos from his days as an astronaut and weather. After his experiences in diploma from Preschool and Elementary Principal and Assistant Head of School Gladys were projected on a large screen behind space, he said, he never complains about Runnels, (center) and Assistant Elementary the seniors. traffic or the weather or about people. Principal and Guidance Counselor Marcia “I’ve had a lucky life,” he told the (See Commencement, p. 2.) Mackay. www.runnels.org Graduation/Awards Issue 2013 1 Commencement, continued from page 1 He said that he is grateful for the bless- Maegan Daquano, Madison signed autographs, and posed ings of being alive on the most beautiful Davis, Jordan Etheridge, for souvenir photos. planet in the universe. Haley Evans, Madelinn Fink, We sincerely thank the “Be grateful,” he told the graduates, Quint Forgey, Elizabeth graduation committee mem- “for your life and your blessings, every Forgey, Sarah Krul, Ashley bers Monica Bryan, Conchet- single day.” Kumler, Joshua Manning, ta Foshee, Dana Schlotterer, Capt. Bean closed by offering the Taylor Morris, Isaac Phil- Jennifer Carpenter, Kenneth graduates “three wishes -- wind at your lips, Robert Taboada, Callie Copsey, Marcia Gregg, Pa- sails, light to thy path, and dreams to Tucker, Lainey Whitworth, mela Gyan, Lisa Harris, Leah your heart.” and Savannah Wright (See Jordan, Kristen Manning, The 2013 Valedictorian was Isaac photo on page 12). Amy Monett, Karen Rhine- Capt. Bean signs Jamie Phillips, who spoke eloquently of the The dignitaries and admin- Clare Curry’s mortarboard hart, and Gladys Runnels. lasting friendships, bonds, and memories istrators on stage to assist Dr. (graduation cap) after the Thanks also go to the he and his classmates formed as students Runnels with the presenta- ceremony. National Honor Society, at Runnels. He thanked Elementary tion of awards and diplomas sponsored by Pamela Gyan Librarian Joni Orgeron for his love of included the Rev. Don Bohlcke, Senior and Rebecca Coursey, whose members literature, Art Department Head Lee Minister, first Christian Church, Dis- served as ushers and assisted in other Brandt Randall for his love of art and Dr. ciples of Christ, who offered an invoca- ways at the event. Runnels for creating Runnels School. tion and closing prayer, Chorus Director Joshua Manning was recognized as Johnice Thoms, who sang the “National the Salutatorian. Anthem,” Jr./Sr. High Principal and In addition, seven graduates were Guidance Counselor Conchetta Foshee, recognized for earning perfect 4.0 grade- and High School Assistant Principals point averages throughout Monica Bryan and Dana high school. They are Schlotterer. Danielle Coniglio, Haley The ceremony con- Evans, Madelinn Fink, cluded with a screening Quint Forgey, Elizabeth of the Senior Video, with Lainey Whitworth (left) and Savannah Wright Forgey, Joshua Manning, each graduate receiving a are ready to get the graduation parties started. and Evangelos Nikitopou- copy, and the singing of the los (Photo below, at right). “Alma Mater,” led by Mrs. Among the other Thoms and accompanied highlights of the ceremony by musicians Dan Cassin, was the presentation of “Life-long” Raider Sarah Jennifer Cassin, Shanna roses to the parents of the Krul and her mom, elementary Drescher, John Baird, and 19 Runnels students who teacher Cyndy Krul, are all Gladys Runnels. have been with us since smiles at the reception. After the commence- first grade or before. The “lifers” in ment exercises, a reception was held in the the Class of 2013 are: Sydney Bass, school gymnasium, where Capt. Bean vis- Enjoying the reception are (from left) Anna Amanda Bingham, Danielle Coniglio, ited with the graduates and their families, Manning, grade 5, Senior Class Sponsor Kristen Manning, Capt. Bean, Salutatorian Joshua Man- ning, and Caleb Manning, grade 10. Seniors (from left) Evangelos Nikitopoulos, Dan- ielle Coniglio, Elizabeth Forgey, Madelinn Fink, Quint Forgey, Haley Evans, and Joshua Manning maintained 4.0 grade-point averages throughout high school. (Photo taken at High School Awards The Runnels Class of 2013 with commencement speaker Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean. Assembly May 7.) 2 Graduation/Awards Issue 2013 www.runnels.org Presidential Scholars Plentiful at Runnels Congratulations to the 96 Runnels Buete, Han- students in grades 6, 8, and 12 who re- nah Cassano, cently received the Presidential Award for Elise Cox, Lee Academic Excellence. Curry, Kayla This year, nearly 60 percent of the Evans, Kalyee 8th grade class, 57 Freiberger, Jesse percent of the 6th Griffin, Caroline grade, and 35 per- Henning, Eric cent of the senior Huygues, Ame- class earned this lia Jennings, coveted honor. Anna Kadi, The award Numair Khan, is presented to Ryan Lam, students in “exit Kayla Lee, Syd- Some of the 8th grade recipients of the Presidential Award for Academic Ex- grades” (at Run- ney Markham, cellence with their certificates at the Jr. High Awards assembly in May. nels, 6th, 8th, and Mason Mayes, Mason Mayes receives his Presidential award cer- 12th) who maintain Seth Miller, Alexander Morgan, Zoe Pat- Kharey, Eva Kruger, Rose Law, Blair tificate at the Sixth-Grade a 3.5 grade-point ton, Anna Claire Pousson, Tyler Robbins, LeBleu, Andrew Mitchell, Heath Moser, Graduation. average and score Micah Roper’, Kameron Sargent, Spencer Anthony Nikitopoulos, Olivia O’Halloran, at the 85th percentile on standardized Spivak, Steven Spivak, Madison Sutton, Mark Postlethwait, Ross Stephens, Riley tests. Seniors qualifying for the honor are Aaron Taliaferro, Emma Tooraen, Rachel Stewart, Theodore Todaro,