Parkway District Honors Graduates Joining the U.S. Military

Fifteen graduating seniors from three high schools in the Parkway School District were honored Wednesday night at the first meeting of the new board year.

Parkway South High School had the most candidates with eight, Parkway Central had five students joining, and Parkway West High had two students honored.

U.S. Marines

• Darreal Boykin
• William Foster
• Patrick Baginski 
• Paul Shabel

U.S. Army

• Chad Wolfe

U.S. Navy

• Marcus Holmes
• Gabrielle Evans
• Markese Leonard
• Jake Lewis
• Joran Straub
• Anna Yahnke

U.S. Air Force

• Samantha Clark
• Martinae Wilkerson

Coast Guard Academy

• Mark Krebs

U.S. Naval Academy

• Steven Emde

Eight of the seniors attended the recognition ceremony Wednesday.

However, a full force of the Marching Colts Band dressed in parade regalia performed a medley of military fight songs, with onlookers applauding as each new branch of service was recognized by song. 

Former school board president Monty Montgomery a former school board President and an alum of the U.S. Air Force Academy addressed the seniors—choking up momentarily as he looked over their youthful demeanors.

He thanked them for what he described as mature decisions to serve. He indicated it would impact their lives in positive, important ways.

Onlookers stood to applaud the teens, and the band played on.