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You've got eMule!
Vol. 13 No. 16

Welcome back to The eMule! Below is the latest news from the Poplar Bluff R-I School District to wrap up the 2024/25 year. Thanks for keeping up with the school system!
Congratulations to the 329 students of the PBHS Class of 2025, who collectively earned $1,962,771 and counting in individual scholarships, A+ funding and other grants including our annual Foundation recipients celebrated here. Click here to view our photo album from the commencement ceremony held last week at the Black River Coliseum. Our outgoing seniors visited their respective elementary schools wearing caps and gowns as part of the Senior Walk tradition established in 2013. You may view our running album here. Lastly, we wish to welcome cadet Lt. Col. Keira Willis as our incoming commander of the Pvt. Billie Gene Kanell JROTC Battalion. Click here for scenes from our Change of Command ceremony. Please like/comment/share and help tag our families!
| Dollar Store donates $5K toward disaster relief efforts at Kindergarten Center | |
Dollar Store Corporation has donated $5,000 to the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center to assist with recovery efforts, as educators hope to return to their classrooms at the Camp Road facility in time for the new school year to begin.
“Dollar General is thrilled to provide the Poplar Bluff School District with $5,000 to support their recovery effort at the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center following the March 14 tornado,” shared Denine Torr, Dollar General’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. “When disaster strikes, ensuring educational continuity is essential in restoring hope and a sense of normalcy for students.”
R-I Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman stated during the Board Reorganization meeting last month that he is “cautiously optimistic” about students returning to the Kindergarten Center in August, provided there are no major weather or material delays over the summer. The Board of Education provided emergency provisions necessary to allow district leaders to seek competitive quotes in order to expedite the process.
Kindergarteners completed the 2024/25 academic year in the Mark Twain facility, while alternative school students were divided between the Tinnin Fine Arts Center and Poplar Bluff Middle School, after the EF-3 tornado caused substantial damage to the Camp Road campus.
Last year, Dollar General and its foundations contributed more than $2 million through various partnerships and initiatives to support disaster relief, according to Emma Hall, Dollar General spokesperson. The corporation provides financial support to affected employees through its Dollar General Employee Assistance Foundation, and helps schools rebuild and recover through the Literacy Foundation’s Beyond Words grant program founded in 1993 for schools, nonprofits and public libraries within a 15-mile radius of the store.
On top of Dollar General’s generosity, Kindergarten Center Principal Christy Young reported that Dairy Queen recently donated $2,200 toward personal effects teachers lost due to the destructive winds, estimated to have peaked at 138 mph.
For other such business inquiries, monetary donations may be directed to the Poplar Bluff Administrative Building at 1110 N. Westwood Blvd., with a memo specifying its designated purpose to ensure distribution to the appropriate building/staff, noted the R-I Business Office.
Above: (Left to right) Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman and Kindergarten Center Principal Christy Young accept a check from Dollar General company officials at the corporation’s newest Poplar Bluff location that opened in March at 1602 N. Main St.
| Poplar Bluff Junior High student designs new county flag | |
The new flag that will be displayed at the Butler County Courthouse has been created by an incoming freshman of Poplar Bluff Schools.
The chosen design incorporates tulip poplar trees on a bluff, the three rivers flowing through the county and a combination of school colors, according to the commissioner’s interpretation of the artwork.
Outgoing eighth grader Hetansh Patel was rewarded $100 for winning the logo contest; outgoing eighth grader Caylee Dodd placed second, winning $50; outgoing seventh grader E’Monee Gainwell placed third, winning $25; and outgoing eighth grader Bentley Brown received an honorable mention, earning a plaque.
The participating students worked on their submissions last month in Poplar Bluff Junior High’s design and modeling class through Project Lead the Way. Instructor Jodie Berry submitted the top 40 designs to the Butler County Commission, which made the final selections with help from office staff.
Above: Commissioners (left to right) Vince Lampe, Larry Wells and Ralph Stucker recognize logo contest winners (from left) Hetansh Patel, E’Monee Gainwell, Caylee Dodd and Bentley Brown on Friday, May 2, at the Butler County Courthouse.
Below: The flag designed by Hetansh Patel, who will be a PBHS student next school year, will undergo minor modifications before being displayed at the Butler County Courthouse later this summer.
| Designing Women Foundation awards over $5K to Poplar Bluff students | |
The Designing Women Foundation presented $5,650 to Poplar Bluff students in scholarships and awards through its local program opportunities on Monday, May 12, at the Bloodworth House.
Outgoing senior Mackinley Cox was the 43rd student to be awarded the Charlie Classics Scholarship, valued at $2,000, for reading over 100 classics throughout her academic career. She was additionally awarded the $1,000 Designing Women Scholarship, along with Cora Pendley of the PBHS Class of 2025.
Pendley plans to major in horticulture at Murray State University in Kentucky. Cox, who read a total of 118 books, intends to major in biomedical sciences at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. She was also awarded $300 for being the top reader of her class, completing 15 pieces of classic literature this academic year.
Other top readers were incoming senior Claire Funke, who was awarded $300 for reading 10 books; incoming junior Savannah Thomas, who earned $300 for reading 11 books; incoming freshman Andrew Pennell, who received $300 for reading 30 books, while his classmate Ayannah Gipson was awarded $150 for reading 20; and incoming eighth grader Isaiah Eastep, who took home $300 for reading 25 classics.
Founded by Linda Bloodworth Thomason in 1990, the program encourages Junior and Senior High students to read Charlie Classics with the goal of completing 100 books from the vetted list by graduation. To date, the reading program's scholarship recipients have been awarded nearly $200,000 toward their higher education.
The DWF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the cultural and educational enrichment of deserving young people, primarily women. For more information, visit designingwomenfoundation.org.
Top: Linda Surber, DWF board member and R-I Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman present Mackinley Cox with the Charlie Classics and Designing Women scholarships.
Middle: Beth Blaich, DWF board member, and R-I Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman present Cora Pendley with the Designing Women Scholarship.
Bottom: Linda Surber, DWF board member, and R-I Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman, present (left to right) Mackinley Cox, Claire Funke, Savannah Thomas, Andrew Pennell, Ayannah Gipson and Isaiah Eastep with reading contest awards.
| American Red Cross scholarships awarded | |
The American Red Cross has awarded Poplar Bluff High School $2,500 after students successfully generated 120 units of blood during a series of drives hosted, despite the weather events of recent months.
The scholarship committee comprised of a cross-section of educators selected both Khianna Peoples and Aminah Williams of the Class of 2025 out of eight applicants to receive $1,000 each, based on their involvement with the organization, coupled with their academic standing and good citizenship.
The other $500 was earmarked to sponsor two students pursuing training opportunities next school year through the Missouri Association of Student Councils, according to outgoing Student Council co-adviser Jennie Randolph.
“I have always felt a moral obligation to help others in any way possible,” wrote Williams in her successful scholarship application. “…The opportunity to work with others well has greatly improved my social skills and public speaking abilities. These skills will greatly benefit my future career in politics.”
Williams plans to attend the University of Missouri in Columbia, where she will pursue a pre-law major. During her high school career, she recorded 120 hours volunteering at student-sponsored blood drives, personally contributing blood four times.
Peoples plans to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she will study political science with the ultimate desire of becoming a civil rights lawyer. She volunteered 102 hours over the course of 13 blood drives, donating three pints herself.
“Leading the African American Culture Club strengthened my ability to mobilize people, inspire change and navigate challenges, while engaging with my community enhanced my persuasive speaking and active listening skills,” she wrote of her service learning journey. “…These experiences have prepared me to advocate for politics, empower marginalized communities and educate others about their rights, ensuring that my work leads to meaningful, lasting change.”
Above: Presenting scholarships to Aminah Willaims and Khianna Peoples are Red Cross District Collections Manager Jerrica Fox and Jennie Randolph, PBHS communication arts teacher.
Below: Students who received graduation cords for their voluntary service during blood drive were (in alphabetical order) Kaitlyn Booker, Zoë Freeman, Kylee Hayman, Dean Hester, Austin Hulan, Destiny Jackson, Richard Lewis, Willow Luke, Khianna Peoples, Nevaeh Powell, Lyndsay Weaver and Aminah Williams. Not pictured are Aaryn Johnson and Caleb Tuttle.
| Vandewarker awarded $500 Dicken Memorial Scholarship | |
Virginiagrace Vandewarker of the Poplar Bluff High School Class of 2025 has earned the $500 Kyle Curtis Dicken Memorial Scholarship, designated for a student pursuing music as a major.
Vandewarker plans to attend Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar to study music and art, with the ultimate goal of becoming a high school choir or band director. “There is music in every child. The teacher’s job is to find it and nurture it,” she wrote in her scholarship essay, quoting American pianist Frances Clark.
During her High School career, Vandewarker has played flute for the Sho-Me Marching Band for all four years, serving as section leader for the past two. She additionally played trumpet since she was a sophomore, plus sang in the choir. In 2023, she was selected to attend the Missouri Fine Arts Academy.
The memorial scholarship is named in honor of the late Kyle Dicken, who would have been a member of the PBHS Class of 2014, and had plans to pursue music in college. Contributions to the local music scholarship fund may be made via the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, 425 E. Trafficway, Springfield, MO 65806. For more information, call 417-864-6199.
Above: Band Director Stephen Winters and Wanda Dicken, the late Kyle’s grandmother, present Virginiagrace Vandewarker with the Dicken Memorial Scholarship on Thursday, May 8, at PBHS.
| 2025 Missouri Good Sports named | |
A male and female multi-sport student-athlete from Poplar Bluff Junior and Senior High has been selected by the Athletic Department as Missouri Good Sports under the Missouri State High School Activities Association.
Receiving the annual Awards of Excellence on Tuesday, May 13, were Ireland Gowen of the Class of 2025, who played volleyball, basketball and soccer, and classmate Brendan Durden, who played basketball and ran track; and incoming freshmen Molly Murphy, who played basketball and softball, and Kingston Wade-Kennedy, who played football, basketball and ran track.
Ireland was a SEMO Ball nominee and received All-Conference and All-District honors. Brendan was a four-year letterman in basketball and also earned All-Conference and All-District recognition. Both outgoing seniors were previously named Missouri Good Sports in Junior High, and concluded their academic careers in the top 30 of their class.
Molly achieved a 6-2 record pitching, with an 8.14 batting average, 19 runs batted in and 19 runs scored in eight games. Kingston set the Junior High track record in the 400 meter and 4 x 200 meter, and led the football team in tackles this year.
Above: (From left) Ireland Gowen, Brendan Durden and Kingston Wade-Kennedy receive Missouri Good Sports awards from Athletic Director Kent Keith on Tuesday, May 13, at PBJHS for their sportsmanship. Not present for the photo was Molly Murphy.
| April Athletes of the Month named | |
The Mules Booster Club has named Savannah Larkins and Caiden Luke of Poplar Bluff High School the April Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Luke, an outgoing senior golf player, received All-Conference honors, tying for first at the Conference Championship. He was a member of the golf team that holds a Missouri State High School Activities Association record on a par 71 course with a score of 277 and a team score of 280 on a par 72 course.
“Caiden is a very diligent and kind individual. He is dedicated to his schoolwork and practice. He shows up always ready to go and plays to the best of his abilities,” said Tyler Davis, his coach. “Caiden is the type of athlete who will play through pain and sickness (which he has) to make sure he does his part to benefit the team. He was a great captain this year, and he will be missed next season.”
Track and field runner Larkins of the Class of 2025 achieved a personal discus record of 102 feet, 6.25 inches during her senior year. Like Luke, Larkins was ranked in the top 20 percent of her class academically.
“Savannah Larkins has been a strong leader for the Poplar Bluff Track and Field team, especially in the throwing events. For the past four years, she has worked hard to get better at discus and shot put, always giving her best effort,” said Elizabeth Lewis, her coach. “Savannah’s dedication shows not only in her own achievements but also in how she helps and supports younger athletes. Her hard work and positive attitude make her an important part of the team and a great role model for others.”
Above: Caiden Luke and Savannah Larkins of the Class of 2025 are presented the AOM awards by Brian Taylor, Booster Club president, on Thursday, May 8, at PBHS.
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Summer School
Summer School will run from Wednesday, May 28-Wednesday, June 25. Click here for bus route information and for details about our free Summer Food Service Program that will continue through July.
Kinder Registration
For children who are not enrolled at the Early Childhood Center only, you may register your child(ren) at the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center for the 2025/26 school year by visiting mules.me/enroll or schedule an appointment with our registrar office by calling 573-850-0850.
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On Thursday, May 8, the DAR reported about Alex Bedell of PBHS signing a National Letter of Intent to play soccer at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville.
On Friday, May 9, KWOC reported about Dr. Valerie Ivy of PBHS being named the MoASSP regional Principal of the Year; and Noah Spain of PBHS being selected to play in the statewide All-Star series.
The DAR reported about IEP facilitator Anita Cates of PBHS being named Pre-ETS Teacher of the Year for the Southeast Region.
On Saturday, May 10, WSILTV reported about our O’Neal therapy dog Bocce visiting with veterans at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.
The DAR reported about Matthew Penn of PBHS signing a National Letter of Intent to play tennis for Missouri Baptist College in St. Louis.
On Monday, May 12, KWOC also reported about our regional Pre-ETS Teacher of the Year.
The DAR published a photo display from our JROTC Change of Command Ceremony.
On Wednesday, May 14, DESE announced Eugene Field as one of eight Missouri Gold Star Schools, our third school to receive the prestigious designation, following Lake Road Elementary in 2018 and Oak Grove Elementary School in 2019!
KFVS12 also reported about our newest Missouri Gold Star School.
Lastly, the DAR reported about our Missouri Gold Star School.
On Thursday, May 15, KWOC additionally reported about Eugene Field being named a Missouri Gold Star School.
The DAR reported about our Kindergarten end-of-the-year celebrations; our elementary World Health Day art contest winners via the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center; and recognized our scholarship recipients/top readers via the Designing Women Foundation.
On Friday, May 16, the DAR reported about our commencement ceremony and published a photo gallery; recognized our valedictorian and salutatorian; and honored Virginiagrace Vandewarker for earning the PEO Donna Moulton Education Scholarship.
On Sunday, May 18, the DAR honored several PBHS students who have earned college degrees.
On Monday, May 19, the Daily Journal also reported about handler Gabe Thompson, O’Neal counselor, bringing therapy dog Bocce to the VA hospital.
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