MORAN — To illustrate the closeness of the 2016 graduating class at Marmaton Valley High School, a deceased classmate all the way back from first grade was frequently mentioned in Saturday’s graduation ceremonies.
Jordan Dickerson tragically died at age 6 from a car accident in November 2004.
To her fellow classmates, Jordan’s loss is still fresh. They left an empty seat in her honor and gave her parents, Joe and Paula Dickerson, a rose in her honor.
The feeling is mutual. The Dickersons rarely a miss an event of their deceased daughter’s classmates.
“We are family,” said Mackenzie Tynon in her address as valedictorian to her classmates. A slideshow depicted many of the students growing up together ever since they were toddlers.
Despite a graduating class of only 21, the gymnasium was almost full with friends and family, giving proof of the close-knit nature of the community.
Also addressing the class was Keagan Boyd, salutatorian.
The class brimmed with high achievers. The total value of scholarships taking them into the future equaled to more than $180,000.
