Maria Yerton, Rotary Club of Pryor President, opened the meeting on Friday, April 19, 2024, with the words of Benjamin Franklin, who famously said, "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Yerton reported that seven scholarships this year had been awarded to Mayes County graduates. Committed to education, the club sponsors an annual event to honor Pryor's Graduates of Distinction.
Dr. Lisa Muller served as the keynote speaker. She congratulated the graduates and reminded them to pursue their dreams, noting Eleanor Roosevelt's words, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Dr. Fielding Elseman, principal of Pryor High School, praised the graduates for their hard work and dedication, encouraging them to make a difference in the world through service. He commended their ability to “own their time” and acknowledged all the “late nights and late bus rides home” that characterized their school journey. Encouraging them to make their futures about service, Elseman urged the graduates to pursue careers where their “interests intersect with the world’s needs.”
Additionally, in honor of the graduates, the club presented the Jefferson Elementary Library with a copy of Gilles Bizouerne’s book Barnaby Is Not Afraid of Anything autographed by both Dr. Lisa Muller and Dr. Fielding Elseman.
PHS Counselor and Rotary member Phyllis Hess presented the Top 10 Percent of the graduating class to rotary members, parents, and grandparents in attendance for the occasion.
Hess thanked Cathy Webster, who fills many roles for the Rotary Club, for her help printing cards and supplying a copy of the book Mad Libs for each graduate.
The Rotary Club of Pryor supports education through various initiatives. Every 3rd grader and their teacher in Mayes County receives a dictionary each year, a testament to the club's dedication to literacy. Furthermore, the club sponsors RYLA Campers, providing high school juniors with a leadership and personal growth experience. Additionally, scholarships awarded to Mayes County graduating high school seniors reflect the Rotary's investment in the future.
The Pryor High School Graduation Commencement Ceremony will be held in the Burdick Center, on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 7:00 pm.
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