Full Story: Laclede Literacy Council recognizes graduates at ceremony

The latest Laclede County graduates of the HiSET high school equivalency certificate received recognition Thursday night.

The Laclede County Literacy Council held the graduation event at the Mills Center on the Laclede County fairgrounds.

Literacy Council Executive Director Carol Barsby thanked graduates’ families for attending.

“Isn't that a wonderful sight to see all those young people here to see their parents and their grandparents get a high school education?” she said.

She reminded the attendees about an upcoming event to provide food to people in need.

“You can't learn if you're worried about food and shelter, your brain physically cannot learn. The literacy council took it on themselves to pack 10,000 meals for folks right here in the city of Lebanon. On Dec. 6 we'll be right here at the Mills Center to put 10,000 meals together and share them. They'll be ready for people to pick up on Dec. 7," she said.

The keynote speaker for the event was Don Brenton who retired in 2018 from Esther Elementary School where he was known as “Mr. B” after 40 years of teaching music. He said literacy was crucial for students to succeed.

“I've been teaching school for 48 years, and I'm going to tell you something. The smartest kid in every classroom hands down is the one that reads the best, hands down,” he said.

He also encouraged the graduates to make good choices in their lives and performed some songs.

The event concluded with the presentation of diplomas to the new graduates.

The 2025 HiSET graduates are Cassidy Anderson, DeAnna Case, Austin Dinwiddie, Jace Erickson, Nikkita Harrod, Mandy Haley, Kayle Nichols, Ian Pettibon, Gabriella Petty, Lita Osborne and Pam Roberts.