Palmyra Recognizes Graduating Seniors of the Class of 2026
Palmyra High School Class of 2026
By Ella Aguilar
PALMYRA, Mo. — Celebration, reflection and excitement filled the air this past week as Palmyra High School honored the Class of 2026 during its annual Senior Awards Ceremony on May 12 and graduation commencement on May 14.
From Left to Right: The Palmyra High School Class of 2026 Valedictorian was Allie Henggeler. Salutatorian was Maiya Reese.
The two events highlighted not only the academic and extracurricular success of the graduating class, but also the determination, leadership and community involvement that defined this year’s seniors. Students were recognized for excellence in athletics, academics, music, agriculture, leadership and community service while receiving scholarships and awards that will help support their futures after high school.
Graduation night marked the official close of one chapter and the beginning of another for members of the Class of 2026. Family members, friends, faculty and community supporters gathered to celebrate students as they crossed the stage and prepared for careers, military
service, technical training and higher education opportunities across the country.
Among the standout graduates recognized throughout the week were Valedictorian Allie Henggeler, who became the only student in the class to graduate with an associate degree; Salutatorian Maiya Reese; Harvard-bound senior and Class President Marissa Gottman; and student speaker Kaitlyn Bode, who will continue both academics and athletics at Evangel University.
Athletics remained a strong point of pride for the class, with numerous students honored for achievements in basketball, softball, cheerleading, golf and overall sportsmanship. Academic excellence was also heavily celebrated, including honors in mathematics, leadership, agriculture, music and service organizations.
Local businesses, memorial foundations, agricultural organizations, civic groups and community
members awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships during the ceremony, continuing Palmyra’s tradition of supporting students as they pursue their next steps after graduation.
Organizations including the Palmyra Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, MFA Foundation, Palmyra Kiwanis, local banks and several memorial scholarship funds contributed to student success.
As the Class of 2026 turns the page toward the future, the week served as a reminder of the talent, ambition and community support surrounding Palmyra High School’s graduating seniors.
Class President, Marissa Gottman speaking at graduation. Gottman will be attending Harvard to study creative writing and English.
Athletic Awards
- Dawn & Candy Vance Cheerleading Award — Sandra Leon Murillo
- Dana L. Haynes Softball Memorial Award — Caydence Deming
- Glenn Murphy Basketball Memorial Award — Noah Williams and Ava Fohey
- Dick Haydon Golf Award — Skeeter Kroeger
- All-Around Sportsmanship Award — Ava Fohey and JT Thomas
- Athletic Booster Club Scholarships — Tyler Spicknall and Kaitlyn Bode
- Academic All-Conference Awards — Rafe Jones, JT Thomas, Ashton Lovegreen, Ava Fohey, Noah Williams, Luke Sheppard, Marissa Gottman, Sandra Leon, Ericka Manolache and Tegan Herold
Class Speaker, Katelyn Bode, speaking at graduation. Bode will be attending Evangel University playing Tennis and study Nursing.
Departmental Awards
- AP Calculus Medal — Allie Henggeler
- Academic Excellence in Mathematics, Elementary Statistics — Makayla Harris, Ryan Hoerr, Noah Williams, Meredith McAlister and Maiya Reese
- Academic Excellence in Mathematics, College Algebra — Abram Getz, Sandra Leon Murillo, Janie Triplett and Maiya Reese
- Family and Consumer Science Awards — Caydence Deming, Jade Foglesong, Skeeter
Kroeger and Sophie Zeiger - Herring-Lowe (CTA) Scholarship — Emma Meyer
- Yearbook Recognition — Noah Williams and Caydence Deming
- Palmyra Pickleball Scholarship — Marissa Gottman, Rafe Jones and Maiya Reese
- Susie Lowe StuCo Scholarship — Marissa Gottman
- American Legion Good Citizen Award — Rafe Jones and Ava Fohey
- American Legion “Americanism” Award — Ashton Lovegreen
- Post 174 Memorial American Legion Scholarship — Rafe Jones
- VFW Post 11041 Scholarship — Maiya Reese
- Outstanding Senior Student Awards — Abram Getz and Marissa Gottman
Valedictorian, Allie Henggeler, receiving her recognition as the class of 2026 valedictorian. She will be attending Palm Beach Atlantic University to study Finance and Biblical Studies. Henggeler also received her Associates degree from Moberly Area Community College (MACC) and was the only student to do so this year.
Scholarships/Awards
- Kasey Hess Memorial Scholarship — Janie Triplett and Maiya Reese
- Brandon Devlin Memorial Scholarship — Raeson Miller
- Bright Flight Scholarship — Rafe Jones and Marissa Gottman
- John Belcher/FutureBuilders Scholarship — Marissa Gottman
- American Red Cross Scholarships — MaKayla Harris and Skeeter Kroeger
- Palmyra Masonic Lodge No. 18 — Kaitlyn Bode and Sophie Hicks
- Palmyra Chamber of Commerce Scholarship — Kaitlyn Bode and Marissa Gottman
- Chamber of Commerce Vocational Scholarship — Wesley Summers
- Hometown Roots Scholarship — Rafe Jones
- April Langwell Phillips Scholarship — Rafe Jones
- Palmyra Fire District Scholarships — Caelyn Anduss, Alexis Trosper, Rafe Jones and Ava Fohey
- Marion County 4-H Awards — Emma Meyer and Janie Triplett
- Marion County Farm Bureau Scholarships — Marissa Gottman, Emma Meyer and Erin McChristy
- American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship — Rafe Jones
- North River Old Iron Scholarship — Sandra Leon
- Key Club Service Scholarship — Kaitlyn Bode
- Austin W. Howe Leadership Scholarship — Kaitlyn Bode
- Earl Collins Foundation Scholarship — Kaitlyn Bode
- Palmyra Kiwanis Scholarships — Abram Getz and Katherine Tanner
- BLP Scholarship — Sophie Hicks and Maiya Reese
- Chapter KV P.E.O. Scholarship — Kaitlyn Bode
- Farmers Mutual Insurance of Marion County Scholarship — Noah Williams
- Palmyra Young Farmers Scholarships — Ashton Lovegreen, Wesley Summers, Marissa Gottman and Ava Fohey
- Great River Tigers/Mizzou Alumni Scholarship — Rafe Jones
- Mildred Briscoe Circle of King’s Daughters Scholarship — Janie Triplett
- St. Joseph Parish Scholarship — Ava Fohey and Rafe Jones
- Palmyra Area Ministerial Alliance Scholarships — Rafe Jones and Maiya Reese
- Heitman Scholarship — Rafe Jones and Abram Getz
- Palmyra Music Boosters — Tegan Herold, Savannah Comeau, Aurora Long, Katherine Tanner and Ashton Lovegreen
- Exchange Bank Scholarships — Marissa Gottman and Katherine Tanner
- Western Golf Association Evans Scholarship — Abram Getz
- Bross Family Scholarship — Rafe Jones, Marissa Gottman, Sophie Hicks, Janie Triplett, Kaitlyn Bode and Maiya Reese
- Bill and Dot Kaiser Scholarship — Caydence Deming
- Bonnie Stoddard Williamson Scholarship — Colby Jones
- Lucille Foster Opportunity Scholarship — Wesley Summers, Tyler Spicknall and Luke
DiMaggio - BASF Scholarship — Rafe Jones
- United State Bank Scholarship — Allie Henggeler and Janie Triplett
- MFA Foundation Scholarship — Rafe Jones
- Douglas Community Services Scholarship — Wesley Summers
- Bleigh Construction Scholarship — Rafe Jones
- Hutcherson Scholarship — Alexis Trosper and Brodie Webb
- Palmyra High School Scholarship — Rafe Jones and Emma Meyer
- Scholarship of Tenacity — Alyssa Lee and Axel Brown
- Rebel Pig Scholarship — Abram Getz
Salutatorian, Maiya Reese, receiving her recognition as the class of 2026 Salutatorian. Reese will be attending the University of Missouri to study Exercise Science.
Memorial Scholarships
- Teresa Thompson Memorial Scholarship — Maiya Reese
- Don Foster Memorial Scholarship — Janie Triplett
- Jaykob Voepel Memorial Scholarship — Alexis Trosper
- Earl and Dorothy Meyer Scholarship — Tyler Spicknall and Caelyn Anduss
- Jim Cissna Memorial Scholarship — Rafe Jones and Marissa Gottman
- Ray Church Memorial Scholarship — Emma Meyer
- Doris and Bob Johnson Scholarship — Rafe Jones
- Troy Disselhorst Memorial Scholarship — Erin McChristy
- Nick Smyser Memorial Scholarship — Jackson Coggeshall, Marissa Gottman and Aubrey Hillman
- Alton Vannice Scholarship — Erin McChristy
- Thomas Dean and Mary Bush Adams Memorial Scholarship — Emily Comer and Luke Sheppard
- Drebes Memorial Scholarship — Erin McChristy
- Barber Memorial Scholarship — Maiya Reese and Sophie Hicks
- Kelly Behring Memorial Scholarship — Wesley Summers and Tyler Spicknall
- Rose Ingram Memorial Scholarship — Tegan Herold
College/University Scholarships
- Associate Degree Award — Allie Henggeler
- Moberly Area Community College Scholarships — Landon Jurado and Sophie Zeiger
Final PHS Awards
- Society of Academic Achievement — Caelyn Anduss, Kaitlyn Bode, Savannah Comeau, Emily Comer, Jade Foglesong, Ava Fohey, Abram Getz, Marissa Gottman, Allie Henggeler, Tegan Herold, Rafe Jones, Alyssa Lee, Sandra Leon, Aurora Long, Ashton Lovegreen, Erin McChristy, Emma Meyer, Maiya Reese, Lily Sharrow, Luke Sheppard, Wesley Summers, Janie Triplett, Noah Williams and Madisyn Wilt
- Student of the Month Awards — Rafe Jones, Savannah Comeau, Hannah Damron, Landon
Jurado, Tatum Martin, Adyson Dorsey, Emma Meyer and Kevin Gosney - A+ Scholarship Recipients — Caelyn Anduss, Jolene Bessy, Kaitlyn Bode, Axel Brown, Chesney Brumbaugh, Jackson Coggeshall, Savannah Comeau, Emily Comer, Rylan Compton, Caydence Deming, Luke DiMaggio, Adyson Dorsey, Maximus Edgar, Ava Fohey, Marissa Gottman, Sophie Hicks, Aubrey Hillman, Ryan Hoerr, Katelynn Jeffries, Colby Jones, Rafe Jones, Landon Jurado, Skeeter Kroeger, Alyssa Lee, Sandra Leon, Erin McChristy, Ryan McKinney, Emma Meyer, Maiya Reese, Lily Sharrow, Luke Sheppard, Tyler Spicknall, Wesley Summers, Janie Triplett, Anthony White, Noah Williams, Evan Wilson, Madisyn Wilt and Sophie Zeiger
