Prague top students announced
Five students in the Prague High School graduating Class of 2021 have achieved top honors. Samantha Blackwell, Campbell Coffey, Alexander Griffith, Graceyn Hyden and Lilyana Sestak are Valedictorians finishing their high school years with a 4.0 or better grade point average.
Two students, Parker Bailey and Brooklyn Smith, graduated with a 3.98 GPA earning them the title of Salutatorian.
Samantha Blackwell
Samantha Blackwell, the daughter of Tiffany Rains and Daniel Blackwell, has attended Prague schools since kindergarten.
Class and athletic awards include membership in the National Honor Society and Lions Club Awards in Algebra II, Spanish I and II, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry and Advanced Placement American Literature.
She participated in Business Professionals of America, Book Club and Art Club. She was part of the Pride of Prague Band and Prague Lady Devils softball team.
Samantha served the community through the Junior Volunteer Program at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Shawnee.
She worked at Beachler’s Hometown Market during high school and will attend Oklahoma State University in the fall with a major in accounting.
Campbell Coffey
Campbell Coffey is the daughter of Dr. James Coffey and Robina Coffey. She has attended Prague schools for seven years.
She is a member of the Oklahoma and National Honor Societies and was selected to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors. She was on the varsity cheer squad and participated in Business Professionals of America.
Campbell served the community through Infant Crisis Services, Celebrate Recovery Childcare and the Seminole and Shawnee Free Medical Clinics. She served in children’s ministries through her church and helped out with concessions at the Prague FFA Livestock Show.
She worked at Reynold’s Wellness Center in Seminole and plans to further her education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. Her goal is to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and a masters in business and administration.
Alexander Griffith
Alexander Griffith, the son of Rhett and Dana Griffith, has attended Prague schools for three years and is a member of the Oklahoma and National Honor Societies. He was chosen to serve as a Boys State delegate and as a student board member for Vision Bank and BancFirst.
He earned Academic Excellence Awards for Algebra II, American History, Biology II, Ag Ed I, Administrative Technology II, Government, Trigonometry/Pre-calculus, Ag Power and Tech, Advanced Placement Language and Composition, Multi-media and Family and Consumer Science. He was a Regional STEM Scholar for excellence in science, technology, engineering and math.
Alexander participated in Student Council, Future Farmers of America, FFA Trap and Skeet and is a member of the Boys Scouts of America.
He has served the community through various events such as Septemberfest, Fourth of July flag ceremony and Easter Egg Hunts. He volunteered in reconstruction of the Methodist Church playground and helped clean up Main St. and Prague Lake.
Alexander has worked as a student aide for the Prague After School Program and as an intern for Highridge Corrosion Services.
He plans to attend Rose State College in Midwest City on a scholarship from the Oklahoma State Regents and pursue a degree in electrical engineering. His goal is to transfer to a four-year university to finish his bachelor’s degree, have a career in electrical engineering and start a family.
Graceyn Hyden
Graceyn Hyden is the daughter of Glen and Kimberly Hyden. She has attended Prague schools for 14 years.
She is a member of the Oklahoma and National Honor Societies as well as the Oklahoma Indian National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Mathematical Honor Society. An Academic Letter Jacket recipient, she was chosen to serve on the student board of directors for BancFirst and Vision Bank.
Graceyn was a page for the Oklahoma State Senate and the House of Representatives and was chosen as a Girls State delegate. She achieved the Chapter Degree in Future Farmers of America and earned multiple awards in speech competitions including first place in Ag Communications at the Prague Regional Contest.
Her leadership positions include vice president of the Prague NHS chapter, chaplain and reporter for Business Professionals of America, and two-time treasurer for Student Council. She also participated in Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Graceyn has served the community through food drives and blood drives and mentoring younger students. She took part in fundraisers for National Suicide Prevention and Oklahoma Infant Crisis Services as well as volunteer work at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital Shawnee and Vacation Bible School.
Her plans are to attend the University of Oklahoma with a major in health and exercise sciences working toward a career as a dermatologist.
Lilyana Sestak
Lilyana Sestak, the daughter of Ross Sestak and Krista McGehee, has attended Prague schools for 13 years.
She is a member of National Honor Society and was chosen to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors. An active member of 4-H Club, she served as president of Lincoln County 4-H and vice president and Northeast District Representative for Oklahoma State 4-H.
She was in the Pride of Prague Band serving as president and was on the Student Council. She took part in Business Professionals of America.
Lilyana has served the community through Stamp Out Starvation, Infant Crisis Services and the Regional Food Bank.
She has worked as a ranch hand and cattle assessor for Sestak Farms and plans to pursue a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry to become an orthopedic hand and foot surgeon.
Parker Bailey
Salutatorian Parker Bailey is the son of Travis and Nachole Bailey. He has attended Prague schools since Prekindergarten.
He is a member of the Oklahoma and National Honor Societies serving as president of NHS. He was on the PHS Academic Team, was chosen to serve on the student board of directors for Vision Bank and BancFirst and is an Academic Letter Jacket recipient.
He earned multiple awards for Academic Excellence including Physical Science, World Literature, Biology, English Language and Composition and Family and Consumer Science. He was twice named a Regional STEM Scholar for excellence in science, technology, engineering and math. He was a 2020 Boys State Delegate and voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by the senior class.
Parker was involved in the community through food drives and helping elementary students with reading and the Santa Shop.
He worked in the Prague Elementary After School Program, at Beachler’s Hometown Market and High Ridge IT. He plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in applied technology at Rogers State University to have a career in information technology.
Brooklyn Smith
Brooklyn Smith is the daughter of John and Angel Smith and has attended Prague schools for 14 years.
A member of National Honor Society, she earned the Lion’s Club Award for Early American History and the Lead with Heart Award.
She served as secretary of Book Club and participated in Student Council and Business Professionals of America.
Brooklyn worked at Sonic Drive In and plans to get a bachelor’s degree in education for a career as a high school teacher.