West Plains, MO – Four 2023 graduates from West Plains High School, and one each from Liberty High School, Willow Springs High School, and Houston High School have been presented with one-time, $2,000 scholarships by the West Plains Bank and Trust Company Employee Scholarship Committee. The recipients were selected based on their interest in banking or a business field, desire to help others, academic performance, and extracurricular activities.
Garrett Mahan, son of Kyle and Elizabeth Mahan, of Pottersville, Mo., (pictured above) plans to attend Harding University, Searcy, Ark., to study pre-optometry. He hopes to one day return to the area to establish his own optometry practice.
Mahan said the most important lesson he has learned in high school is to stay true to what you believe in and always have a strong will and drive when it comes to grades, friendships, or sports. He also emphasized the importance of being kind to people because you never know what they may be going through.
During high school, Mahan participated in football, basketball, the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Future Farmers of America. He also tutored students and volunteered for Salvation Army bell ringing, and yard cleanup for the elderly.
Rylee Brown, daughter of Scott and Krystal Brown, of West Plains, Mo., plans to attend the University of Arkansas, to study horticulture. Her goal is to earn a master’s degree in horticulture and seek employment in a horticulture-related industry, or a marketing position with an agriculture-based company.
During high school, Brown was active in Future Farmers of America, advocating for agriculture by speaking, holding offices, and earning awards. She also served as manager for Zizzer Football, boys’ basketball, and boys’ track. Brown says her involvement in multiple activities while striving to perform academically helped her refine her time management skills, which will serve her well in college.
Emilia Thomas, daughter of David and Amy Thomas, of West Plains, Mo., will attend the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., to study health sciences. Thomas participated in many extra-curricular activities during high school, including the National Honor Society, Project Graduation, Yearbook, Concert Choir, volleyball, and soccer. She shared that the most valuable lesson she learned while in high school was to treat others as you wish to be treated.
Makenna Licon, daughter of Keri Licon, Pomona, Mo., plans to attend Lindenwood University, Saint Charles, Mo., to study in the pre-veterinary medicine program. Licon was known as a leader for Zizzer Cheer, earning an award for most passion and a state office for social awareness. She shared that the passion award helped build her confidence and made her realize the goals she has accomplished and the goals for which she still wants to strive. In addition, Licon volunteered with West Plains Head Start, teaching children multi-tasking skills and how to be more open-minded about situations.
Abigail Orchard, daughter of Mikael and Terri Orchard, Mountain View, Mo., will attend the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., to study speech-language pathology. Orchard’s extra-curricular involvement included volleyball, softball, yearbook, Future Business Leaders of America, Student Council, and National Honor Society.
Orchard’s volunteer work included the Mountain View Garden Club, Salvation Army, UPP, babysitting, and serving Veterans. In addition, she planned and managed fundraisers for her high school class. She said some of the most valuable lessons you learn will come from failure, and that she has come to view failure as a learning experience, not a dead end.
Rogan Traver, son of Kenton and Misty Traver, Willow Springs, Mo., will attend Maryville University to study psychology. Traver participated in many extra-curriculars, including baseball, chess club, Interact Club, marching band, Future Business Leaders of America, and Student Council. In addition, he volunteered at the Willow Springs Public Library, MUNCH, Willow Springs High School basketball games (post-game cleanup), and Rotary Club Auction.
Casey Merckling, son of Judy Merckling and Marty Merckling, Houston, Mo., has plans to attend the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., to study business. Merckling was a varsity starter 2019-present and served as team captain for the Houston Tiger Football Team, lettering in the sport and earning conference, district, and state recognition. He also played and lettered in baseball, earning all-conference. Merckling was Academic Athlete of the Year in 2022 and earned high distinction honor roll for four years. He also was a member of H-Club and Houston Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Merckling worked as an assistant farm laborer, accountant, and logistics coordinator at Mer-Tran Inc., and Houston High School Student Accountant. His community involvement and volunteer work included owning a non-profit concession stand, mentoring youth athletes, athletic fundraising, and athletic field management. Through all of this, Merckling said he has learned the importance of resilience. He said setbacks are inevitable, but what truly matters is how we respond to them.
West Plains Bank and Trust Company opened its doors to customers in 1883 and is the oldest continually operating business in the area. Assets have grown to more than $625 million. The bank has branch locations in West Plains, Mountain View, Willow Springs, and Houston, Mo., and a loan production office in Mountain Home, Ark.
