Decision Day celebrations at Owensville High School (OHS) on May 10 were full of jocularity as classmates laughed over the 2024 senior prank.

Among those laughing the hardest included Landon Ely, senior class treasurer, who spent the night locked inside the building wreaking havoc with friends. Ely and fellow officers shared the funny anecdotes and stories they felt identified the May 17 graduating class.

Class officers include President Ahna Rasmussen, Vice President Ayla Schmanke, Secretary Anya Binkhoelter and Ely.

“Did you see our senior prank when you came in?” Ely asked, referring to a chair hanging from the rafters in the OHS foyer hallway on Friday morning. “We were in the gym playing games for three hours last night and played in (Principal Kris) Altemeyer’s office.”

Altemeyer said he was not aware of the class prank before hand, but confirmed the students had permission and some of the staff stayed over night to supervise.

“They filled my office with teal solo cups half full of water and strung yarn everywhere,” Altemeyer said. “They were disappointed I cut it with scissors instead of climbing through it. They tied my chair up in the main hallway.”

Altemeyer said he doesn’t think he will worry about getting back at the staff who assisted with the prank.

“The fact that they had to spend the entire night here was punishment enough,” Altemeyer said about the May 9 prank. “We’ve had some good (pranks) the last few years. As long as they follow the rules” they can’t do any damage, have to clean up after themelve and can’t cause custodians any extra work. No disrupting the school day.”

“Altemeyer’s a good sport about it,” Ely said, adding it tops the list as his favorite class memories so far.

As amusing as the prank was, the OHS principal said the graduating class of 2022 has set the bar on pranks.

“Class of 2022 party in the courtyard was probably the best so far,” Altemeyer said.

This year’s graduates still have a special place in the hearts of Gasconade R-2 administrators.

“I’ve really enjoyed having them over the last few years,” he said, adding the class was in eighth grade during the pandemic. “They’ve handled it well and I’m excited to see what they do in the future.”

Looking at the past four years, Schmanke said her favorite class memory was basketball at state.

“State in basketball this year in Aurora — we experienced it with our class,” she said. “It was a crazy environment and something I will never forget.”

For Rasmussen, it was International Career Development Conference with DECA in Orlando, Fla., where she presented a business and marketing project with community awareness.

“We went to Orlando to compete in internationals, spent time at the beach and hung out,” she said.

Binkhoelter said it wasn’t one moment, but several.

“The student section at sporting events — football, basketball, sports in general,” Binkhoelter said.

Ely agreed, sharing the time in 2022 the football team went to districts, baseball at districts, and the track team took second place at state.

“That year was pretty good,” Ely said.

“Even not being seniors at that point, it was good,” Rasmussen agreed.

Who is the class of 2024?

“Our grade is lowkey,” Binkhoelter said. “We have some of the highest amount of dual credit students. Scholarship applications were super competitive.”

Students were just focused on sports, they also had high academic goals as well.

“We have a top 12 instead of a top 10,” Schmanke added. “We don’t have weighted classes, so it’s more difficult than before. It’s aways been competitive. A lot of athletic kids too.”

Rasmussen said she doesn’t remember the class being that competitive at Gerald Elementary School (GES) until after they merged with Owensville Elementary School (OES) in middle school.

“That’s right,” Binkhoelter said. “The teachers used to have to break up the kickball games.”

Ely said the group seems to have a touch of jealousy about each other’s successes, but they also celebrate the accomplishments.

“There is a high level of jealousy, like ‘they’re not going to beat me,’” he said. “But it’s controlled — a family relationship.”

Binkhoelter said they are pretty good at hiding it behind compliments. “The golf team to and from meets — they like to trash talk,” he said. “But when we’re on the course together it’s all support. Off the course, it’s cutthroat. The bus rides can get heated.”

The class is nearly split between going into the workforce or going to college. Students attribute the split to teachers and counselors helping each student decide their strengths and what they want to do. “Our school does a good job making sure people have a plan,” Binkhoelter said.

“If you don’t think college is for you, there are other plans they’ll set up,” Ely said.

Binkhoelter said there are resources in the community and people who are willing to talk about their educational or workforce journeys.

Ely, who will be attending Mizzou in the fall to major in actual science, knows an Owensville alumnus who is also attending for the same degree.

“I’ve been learning from him,” Ely said.

Rasmussen said she will be attending Missouri State to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing — either pediatrics or NICU.

Binkhoelter plans to attend Missouri State to earn her bachelor’s in elementary education.

Schmanke will be attending the University of Missouri Kansas for a marketing and international business degree.

The 2024 class may have missed their eighth-grade graduation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing them to lose a few students to the Missouri State online learning system and others to lack of interest. The 137 remaining members of the Class of 2024 are scheduled to graduate at 8 a.m. on Friday night.

“We’ve had some kids that went to homeschooling and decided to re-enroll,” Altemeyer said. “Some kids did all four years online — they can walk at graduation. Anyone who completed online school are eligible to walk if they want to. We’ve had a couple of kids who have done it. It’s a different setting and they have to be self-motivated, but there are two or three who have done it.”

If there is anything else to know about the graduating class of 2024, it’s that their colors are cream and lavender, the class flower is the lily, and the class song is 24K Magic by Bruno Mars.

If that still doesn’t sum it up, the class motto says it all: “Our lives are before us, our past behind us, and our memories are forever within us.”

OHS TV Studio will be live-streaming the 2024 graduation ceremony at 8 p.m. on May 17 for those who cannot attend or are unable to attend. To watch the live stream, click or the link from OHS TV STUDIO Facebook page or type https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG1bsgxaZRM into the web browser.