Officials at Chandler High School have announced that nine students earned the prestigious honor of being named Valedictorian of the graduating Class of 2021. Maintaining a 4.0 or better grade point average were Jillian Anderson, Victoria Barton, Hayli Mauro, Jacob Moehle, Claire Norrell, Cobie Rickner, Bryston Smith, Jared Stone and Miranda Williams.
Baylee Bowen, Hannah VanDenBrand and Rachel Wayland were all named Salutatorian for their academic achievement during high school.
Jillian Anderson Jillian Anderson, the daughter of Glenn and Melissa Anderson, has attended Chandler Schools since kindergarten.
She has been in the CHS Gifted and Talented Program for four years. Her scholastic efforts earned her an invitation to the Academic Banquet all four years of high school and made her a four-year recipient of the Academic Achievement Award.
Anderson has been consistently listed on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society. She was chosen to serve as a student member of the Rotary Club for the month of December 2020.
A four-year member of Music Makers Choir, she was selected to sing with the East Central Oklahoma Choral Directors Association’s honor choir. Anderson also participated in SkillsUSA and FIRST Robotics Team. She attends Chandler Central Church of Christ.
Her future plans are to pursue a degree in Conservation Ecology at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
Victoria Barton
Victoria Barton is the daughter of Randy and Kim Barton and has attended Chandler Schools since pre-kindergarten. A member of the CHS Gifted and Talented Program, she earned the Biology I Academic Award. Barton was on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll all four years of high school.
She was named Student of the Year at Gordon Cooper Technology Center where she attended the Pre-Engineering Academy and was on the FIRST Robotics Team 2341 - the Sprockets.
Barton was chosen as a student representative in the Rotary Club for the month of December 2020 and as Lion of the Month by the Lion’s Club in October 2020. She was selected to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors.
As a member of Chandler Pom, she helped the group achieve State Championship and Academic State Champions for three years. She participated in crosscountry and was on the 2020 Academic State Champion Team. Barton in involved in First Baptist Church of Chandler youth group.
In the fall, she will attend Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo., pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering with a bio-med specialization. Her goal is to design and create advanced prosthetics for dancers.
Hayli Mauro
Hayli Ann Mauro, the daughter of David and Traci Mauro, has attended Chandler Schools since prekindergarten or as she puts it, “her whole life.” She was on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll for four years and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society and Oklahoma High School Honor Society. She earned an invitation to the Academic Banquet for four years and was presented the Academic Excellence Award for Spanish II, Algebra II, Honors English II, Government and Biology. She was named a Regional STEM Standout for her excellence in science, technology, engineering and math and was chosen to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors.
As a member of the CHS Archery Team, Mauro earned multiple awards at competitions through the Oklahoma National Archery in the Schools Program including first place in High School Team, Tier One State Shoot. She also participated in Business Professional of America.
After graduation, Mauro will further her education at Gordon Cooper Technology Center to become a certified medical coder and bookkeeper. Jacob Moehle
Jacob Moehle
Jacob Moehle, the son of Ryan and Rachel Moehle, has attended Chandler Schools for 13 years beginning with prekindergarten. In addition to his regular classes, he was in the pre-engineering program at Gordon Cooper Technology Center and will graduate this spring.
A four-year Academic Letter recipient, Moehle was named Outstanding Student in STEM, Government, Biology, English and Algebra and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society. As a part of the FIRST Robotics Team, he helped the team to earn the Chairman’s, Safety, and Engineering Inspiration Awards and was the winner of District SkillsUSA Extemporaneous Speech Contest.
Moehle has been a member of CHS band for four years serving as section leader since 2018. He also participated in the CHS choir and is a member of First Baptist Church of Chandler and their youth group. Taking concurrent classes during high school, Moehle will graduate with 30 college credit hours toward his dual degree in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.
He will continue his education at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
Claire Norrell
Claire Norrell is the daughter of Amanda Sprague and Clay Norrell. She has attended Chandler Schools since prekindergarten. Her academic efforts earned her an invitation for four years to the Academic Banquet, three years on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll and three years of achieving Academic Excellence. She is a member of National Honor Society. Norrell was selected to serve on the BancFirst Stu
Norrell was selected to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors and was chosen as a Rotarian of the Month and February Lion of the Month.
She served as a boys’ basketball manager and her athletic abilities were demonstrated while participating in track and cross-country. She was vice president of Positive Peers for two years and was involved in Postponing Sexual Involvement.
Upon graduation, Norrell plans to attend Oklahoma State University in Stillwater with a major in architectural engineering.
Cobie Rickner
Cobie Jensen Rickner is the daughter of Steve and Krista Rickner and has attended Chandler Schools since preschool. She has been on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll all four years of high school and is a member of the National Honor Society.
She was a class president and served on the Student Council. She also participated in Positive Peers and Postponing Sexual Involvement and served as a manager for CHS Boys’ Basketball.
As a member of CHS Pom, she helped the group to achieve four State Championships and three Academic State Championships. She was on the Academic State Championship team in cross-country and also ran track.
Her future plans are to attend Oklahoma State University to major in Political Science working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-law.
Bryston Smith Bryston Smith, the son of Brian and Brandy Smith,
Bryston Smith, the son of Brian and Brandy Smith, has attended Chandler Schools since prekindergarten. A member of the CHS Gifted and Talented Program, he is on the National Honor Society. He is a four-time Academic Letter recipient and consistently on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll.
Smith was selected to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors and was an Oklahoma Boys State delegate. He was co-captain of the CHS Academic Team and Lion of the Month for April.
As a member of the CHS Band, he was low brass captain and twice earned superior ratings at the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association instrumental solo contest. He is involved in the Boy Scouts of America.
Smith’s future plans are to attend the Honors College at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater with a major in environmental geology.
Jared Stone
Jared Stone is the son of Caleb and Amanda Stone. He is an Academic All Stater, Academic Letter recipient and Presidential Scholars candidate. He was chosen as a 2020 Oklahoma Boys State delegate.
Stone is a member of National Honor Society, CHS Academic Team and the Gifted and Talented program. He was selected to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors and on the Oklahoma Agriculture Youth Council.
He has been involved in 4-H and Future Farmers of America for many years. He was Northeast District 4-H Representative this year and last year served as the President. He was the 2019 State 4-H Beef Project Winner. In FFA, he earned the Academic Excellence State FFA Degree and was a bronze medalist in the National FFA Agri-Science Fair. He served as the president of the Chandler FFA Chapter for two years.
Stone was on the CHS Archery team since 2015.
Following graduation, he plans to attend Oklahoma State University in Stillwater with a double major in Animal Science Biotechnology and Animal Science Business. He will be working toward attaining a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine to become a large animal veterinarian.
Miranda Williams
Miranda Myree Williams, the daughter of LaDonna Siler and Jamey Williams, has attended Chandler Schools since fourth grade. A member of the National Honor Society, she has achieved Academic Excellence all four years of high school. She received the award for Government, Spanish and Computers I & II.
Williams was chosen to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors. Her extracurricular activities include Positive Peers, Business Professionals of America and Postponing Sexual Involvement.
After graduating, Williams plans to attend Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond to major in nursing.
Baylee Bowen
Salutatorian Baylee Ann Bowen is the daughter of Daryl and Kristi Bowen and has attended Chandler Schools since prekindergarten.
She is a member of the National Honor Society serving as vice president of the CHS Chapter. She earned an invitation to the Academic Banquet all four years of high school earning Academic Excellence. She received the STEM Award for excellence in science, technology, engineering and math.
Bowen was named Student Rotarian of the Month and November Lion of the Month. She was selected to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors.
She demonstrated leadership abilities serving as treasurer and twice as vice president of FFA and 1st vice president, 2nd vice president, treasurer and vice president of 4-H. She was also involved in Positive Peers and the youth group at First Baptist Church.
Bowen’s future plans are to attend Northern Oklahoma College to livestock judge and study with a double major in Agri-Business and Agricultural Communications.
Hannah VanDenBrand
Hannah Nicole VanDenBrand, a Salutatorian, is the daughter of Amy VanDenBrand and granddaughter of Edna Rogers. She has been attending Chandler Schools since she was a three-year-old Head Start student.
A member of the National Honor Society, her academic achievements include four-time invitee to the Academic Banquet, top student in Spanish I, Outstanding Academic Excellence and Patriot’s Pen Award. She received the Regional STEM Standout Award for excellence in science, technology, engineering and math.
VanDenBrand received the Rotary Youth Leadership Award and was selected to be on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors. She served as class treasurer, two years as class secretary and two years as student council reporter.
She played on the CHS Basketball team for four years earning recognition as an All-Conference Player and an Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association All-Region Basketball Player. She also participated in track, cross country and fast-pitch softball. Her other extracurricular activities include Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; Positive Peers; Postponing Sexual Involvement; and Yearbook staff.
VanDenBrand plans to attend Rose State College in Midwest City, Okla., with a major in radiology to become an ultrasound technician.
Rachel Wayland
Salutatorian Rachel Ryan Wayland, the daughter of Mark and Trisha Wayland, has attended Chandler Schools since prekindergarten. She is a member of National Honor Society and earned an invitation for four years to the Academic Banquet achieving Academic Excellence.
Wayland earned the Rotary Youth Leadership Award and the STEM Award for excellence in science, technology, engineering and math. She was on the Banc-First Student Board of Directors and served as vice president in student council. She was December Lion of the Month and Student Rotarian of the Month.
A member of CHS Pom, Wayland helped the group achieve Pom State Champions in Jazz and Pom State Runner-Up in Hip Hop. She also participated in Positive Peers, choir, drama, Postponing Sexual Involvement and First Baptist Church youth group.
After graduating, Wayland plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing.