Stroud High School has announced its valedictorians and salutatorian for the Class of 2023.
Valedictorians are Taylor Gunter, Kenlee Parrick, Merci McCracken, Baley Bivin, Kaley Bivin, Conner Wilson, Emily Jackson and Gage Wilson. The salutatorian is Hailey Thornhill.
Taylor Gunter
Taylor Gunter is the daughter of LaRay and Wiley Gunter. She has attended Stroud schools since Pre-K. She has a 4.0 GPA and has received awards including National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Oklahoma Honor Society, Superintendents Honor Roll, Career readiness certificate, Occupational Safety and Health Administration certificate, First Aid certificate, Basic life support cardiopulmonary resuscitation certificate, stop the bleed certificate, fire safety/fire extinguisher operation certificate, and Directors Honor Roll at Central Technology Center. She has been active in Student Council, Future Health Professionals of America, Junior Chamber of Commerce, Golf, and Mascot. Her community involvement includes volunteering for homecoming decorating for floats, can food drive, football, baseball, and basketball concessions, Christmas scavenger hunt, decorating for school dance, glow run, volunteered with football and basketball pink out buckets during games, reading buddies, main street trick or treat, wine festival, volunteered to film Girl’s basketball games, volunteered during sophomore showcase, 8th grade connection, visited the Cushing and Drumright nursing homes, helped decorate and plan prom, volunteered to sell cheer ads, working cheer competition, placing flags on each veteran’s grave for memorial day, and volunteered to be the school’s mascot. She is employed at sonic. Taylor’s plans for after high school graduation are to attend Tulsa Community college for Cardiovascular Technology and work at a local clinic as a medical assistant.
Kenlee Parrick
Kenlee Parrick is the daughter of Kenny and Kristy Parrick. She has attended Stroud Public Schools for six years. Her honors and awards include: Valedictorian; Superintendent’s Honor Roll; Oklahoma Honor Society; National Honor Society; Fastpitch Softball All District in 2019-2022; Fastpitch All-Conference in 2019-2022; Fastpitch All-Region in 2022; Track All-Conference in 20212023; Track Regional Champion in 2021-2022; Track State Qualifier in 2021-2022; track State Runner-Up in 2021 and Powerlifting state Qualified in 2022. Parrick is involved in Student Council, National Honor Society, Junior Chamber of Commerce and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As part of the community she organized a school wide anti-bullying initiative called “Dude Be Nice;” presented a speech at the local Glow Run to help raise money for breast cancer awareness; read and played with the Pre-K children at her local elementary school; helped gather necessity items for the Foster Care Drive; gathered canned and boxed items throughout the community for the food pantry; wrote and delivered Valentine’s cards to residents of her local nursing home; photographed and recognized recipients who served her community at the Junior Chamber Banquet; photographed the annual Christmas Parade; helped run the annual fundraising event for her softball team; and assembled and ran pep rallies on game day to get the student body active in support. As President of the National Honor Society she presided over the banquet honoring members of National Honor Society and spoke to the community about service projects. Parrick’s future plans are to attend Oklahoma State University for Business and Economics Pre-Law.
Merci McCracken
Merci McCracken is the daughter of Jill and Bobby McCracken. She has attended Stroud Public Schools since Pre-K. Her honors include Valedictorian and Superintendent’s Honor Roll. She is involved in Color Guard, track, Junior Chamber of Commerce and National Honor Society. She has helped work Halloween on Main Street, helped her mom with Vacation Bible School every summer and helped her church with the Back to School Bash every August.
McCracken’s future plans are to graduate high school, then apply for Tulsa Community College, get her associates degree from Tulsa Community College and then go into a program for Sonography/being an Ultrasound Technician.
Baley Bivin
Baley Bivin is the daughter of Greg and Tammy Geyer and Jeremy and Lori Bivin. She has attended Stroud Public Schools for 10 years. She has been named to the Superintendent’s Honor Roll and Valedictorian of the Class of 2023. She is also involved in the National Honor Society, Oklahoma Honor Society, varsity basketball, Family and Career Community Leaders of America and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Bivin’s community involvement includes Reading Buddies, Valentines for Nursing Home, Glow Run, Pink Out Shirts Organization and Delivery, Angel Tree, Socktober, concession stand, Girls Basketball Kids Camp, Painting the Football Field and Putt Putt Kicks Route 66. Her future plans are to further her education.
Kaley Bivin
Kaley Bivin is the daughter of Greg and Tammy Geyer and Jeremy and Lori Bivin. She has attended Stroud Public Schools since 3rd Grade.
She has been named to the Superintendent’s Honor Roll and Valedictorian of the Class of 2023. She is involved in National Honor Society, Oklahoma Honor Society, varsity basketball, varsity track, Family and Career Community Leaders of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Junior Chamber of Commerce. Her community involvement includes Reading Buddies, Valentines for Nursing Home, elementary carnival, Glow Run, Pink Out Shirts Organization and Delivery, Angel Tree, Socktober, Trick or Treat Main Street, Christmas Parade, JCC Banquet, concession stand, Girls Basketball Kids Camp, Painting the Football field and Putt Putt Kicks route 66. Bivin’s future plans are to get a degree in Physical Therapy and become a Physical Therapist Assistant.
Conner Wilson
Conner Wilson is the son of Christy and Christopher Wilson. He has attended Stroud High School since Pre-K. Wilson has been named Oklahoma Academic Scholar, Valedictorian and has been named to the Superintendent’s Honor Roll. He is involved in the National Honor Society, the Oklahoma Honor Society, baseball, yearbook, Junior Chamber of Commerce and Academic Team.
He served as Student Council Vice President, Family Career and Community Leaders of America Vice President of Membership and Business Professionals of America Vice President. Wilson’s future plans are to attend Oklahoma State University and major in multimedia journalism.
Emily Jackson
Emily Jackson is the daughter of Angi and Jeromye Jackson. She has attended Stroud schools since Pre-K. She has a 4.0 GPA and has received awards including Superintendent Honor Roll, Oklahoma Honor Society, National Honor Society, Pride of Tiger Country award, and a leadership award in golf.
She has been active in National Honor Society, Junior Chamber of Commerce, Family Career Community Leaders of America, Business Professionals of America, Golf, Band, Vocal, and Drama. Her community involvement includes Rural compassion outreach, blessing boxes, reading buddies, and Trick or Treat on Main Street.
Emily’s plans after high school graduation are to go to college to study Church Leadership and plan to get a degree into the ministry. She also plans to possibly get a degree in History.
Gage Wilson
Gage Wilson is the son of Jamie and Justin Wilson. He has attended Stroud schools since Kindergarten. He has a 4.0 GPA and has received awards including Chapter Stars in agribusiness, turf lawn management, wildlife management, agricultural education, national honor society, and perfect attendance. He has been active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Future Farmers of America, and National Honor Society. His community involvement includes trash pickup. Gage’s employment includes farm work and tree service with his dad. His plans for after high school graduation are to attend Oklahoma University and become an electrical engineer.
Hailey Thornhill
Hailey Thornhill is the daughter of Rachael and Ryan Menefee and David Thornhill. She has attended Stroud schools since 6th grade.
She has a 3.98 GPA and has received awards including National Honor Society, Salutatorian, and All-American Cheerleader.
She has been active in Cheer, Junior Chamber of Commerce, National Honors Society, Future Farmers of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Family Career and Community Leaders of America. Her community involvement includes reading buddies, running cheer competition, and concession/gate for baseball. Hailey is employed at McDonald’s and her plans after high school graduation are to attend Oklahoma State University for a chemical and mechanical engineer major and a minor in petroleum and get a job in the petroleum engineering field.